Baseball Takes Two From Mount Saint Vincent In 14-1 and 7-0 Sweep

Lakeland, FL --- Worcester State swept a doubleheader from Mount Saint Vincent by scores of 14-1 and 7-0 in non-conference baseball action at Henley Field this afternoon.

Sophomore Adam Barry (Auburn, MA/Holy Name) and senior Jeff Bolio (Oxford, MA) clubbed home runs in the opener while senior Kris Doyle (Millbury, MA) tossed a one-hit shutout in the nightcap.

Every starter notched at least one hit in the morning contest for the Blue and Gold who pounded out a season-best 20 base-knocks.

Senior teammates Zach George (Attleboro, MA), Nick Gikas (Danvers, MA) and David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA) all logged three hits apiece while Barry and junior Steve Wallace (Auburn, MA) made two trips to home plate. Bolio also added three runs.  

Worcester State (4-5) started off the contest by going up 1-0 in the top of the first. Sophomore Jake Ryan (Whitinsville, MA) tripled with one out and he scored on a sacrifice fly by Barry.

With the score tied up 1-1 entering the next half inning, Bolio doubled to lead off the frame before scoring on a failed pickoff attempt and a misplayed ball in the outfield by the centerfielder. George then rapped out an RBI single to put WSU ahead by two.

After the Lancers scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings before putting the game of reach with a six-run sixth inning. Barry underscored the frame with a solo home run down the right field line while junior John Boyd (Worcester, MA/Worcester Tech), Wallace and Gikas all had run producing plate appearances.

Bolio belted a three-run dinger in the top of the seventh for his fifth career homer.

Senior Ben Libuda (Auburn, MA) completed his second consecutive contest as he threw 117 pitches, 73 for strikes. Libuda (2-1) gave up one unearned run as he scattered six hits to go with three walks and seven strikeouts.

The Lancers slowly built up the 4-0 advantage over the first four innings of play in the 1 PM game.

Bolio and Bonaquisti both had sacrifice flies in the second and fourth stanzas, respectively, while Barry lined an RBI single and Gikas scampered home on a wild pitch in the third.

In the top of the sixth, Mount Saint Vincent threatened when Doyle issued one of his four free passes and he hit another batter. Doyle, however, got out of the jam by inducing a ground out and by ringing up the final batter of the inning on a looking strikeout.

Worcester State put the game out of reach with a trio of runs in the bottom of the sixth. Wallace walked in a score with the bases loaded, sophomore Dan McGuill (E. Longmeadow, MA) had a pinch-hit sacrifice fly and Gikas recorded an RBI ground out.  

Doyle (1-1) put the finishing touches on his sixth career complete game and third shutout with a scoreless top of the seventh.

Sophomore Cristian Lynch (Mastic, NY) had the lone base-knock in the on a clean single through a hole in the right side of the infield with one out in the top of the second for Mount Saint Vincent.

Following a walk to the next batter, the defense bailed out their starting pitcher with their tenth double play in nine contests this season. Doyle then retired 16 of the last 21 batters he faced while he finished with an effective 105 pitches, 63 for strikes.

Ruggiero, who now has hit in eight consecutive games, went 2-for-3 to pace an eight-hit attack. Boyd scored two runs for WSU.

The Lancers will close out their spring break trip with Centenary (NJ) on Saturday in a 10 AM twin bill at the Chain of Lakes complex.