Baseball Defeats WPI, 11-5, In Crosstown Rivalry Matchup

Telegram & Gazette Round-Up: "Osburn Helps Worcester State Slug Past WPI" | Telegram & Gazette Photo Gallery

Northboro, MA --- Senior Cody Osburn (Sacramento, CA) went 4-for-5 at the plate with four RBI and a pair of runs scored as Worcester State defeated crosstown rival WPI with an 11-5 victory in a non-conference baseball game played at the New England Baseball Complex Wednesday afternoon.

With the win, the Lancers improve to 6-7 while the Engineers, currently ranked fifth in this week's New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) Division III coaches poll, slip to 10-5. WSU leads the series 24-19, however, the two ball clubs have split (2-2) over the last four seasons.

The Crimson and Gray took the lead in their half of the first inning. With two outs in the frame, junior DJ Ouellette (Watertown, CT) and classmate Anthony Capuano (Stoneham, MA) used back-to-back run-producing singles to secure the 2-0 edge.

Worcester State cut the lead in half on a junior Steve Wallace (Auburn, MA) RBI ground out in the third. Sophomore Adam Barry (Auburn, MA) followed with a two-run ground rule double to center field to give the Lancers the 3-2 lead.

The fourth inning was a stalemate as junior John Boyd (Worcester, MA) scored on an Osburn RBI double while Capuano scored during the Lancers second 6-4-3 double play of the afternoon.

The Blue and Gold pulled away with a four-run top of the fifth. Osburn singled in a pair and came home on a sophomore Dan McGuill (E. Longmeadow, MA) double to left. In between the swings, Boyd scampered home on a double steal.

Worcester State took the 9-3 advantage when senior Zach George (Attleboro, MA) crossed home plate during an Engineer double play in the sixth.

Junior Sean Greene (Hingham, MA) delivered a pair of runs for the Engineers as he sent a 2-1 offering out of the park in center field in the seventh.

Worcester State scored two more in the ninth off RBI doubles by Osburn and sophomore Mike Powers (Weymouth, MA), who was inserted as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the lineup.

Capuano and Kelly each had a pair of hits while junior Vinny D'Ambrosio (Mahopac, NY) and senior Zach Blanchard (Warwick, RI) each drew a pair of walks for the Engineers.

Sophomore Aidan Freeburg (Billerica, MA) suffered the setback in a game that saw five Engineers pitch in relief. Freeburg's record fell to 2-1 with the loss. Freeburg's record fell to 2-1 with the loss.

Osburn was joined in the Worcester State multiple hit club by Barry (3-for-4, 2 RBI, walk, run), McGuill (2-for-5, RBI, run) and junior Nick Gikas (Danvers, MA) who went 2-for-3 with a run scored. As a team, the Lancers enjoyed a 15-6 margin in the hit column.

Sophomore Zach Zona (Auburn, MA), who picked up his first win of the season, led all pitchers with three strikeouts. Classmate Tyler Barrie (Oxford, MA) started for the Lancers while senior Jared Kuzio (Franklin, MA) ended it with a pair of hitless frames.