Barry, George Help Baseball Outlast Becker, 10-9, In Extra Inning Thriller

Worcester, MA --- Senior Adam Barry (Auburn, MA/Holy Name) finished 4-for-5 with two doubles, one homer, two runs and four RBI to help pace Worcester State to a 10-9 victory over Becker in 10 innings this afternoon in non-conference baseball action at the Kevin Lyons Baseball Diamond.

In the victory, the Lancers improve to 13-10 overall while the Hawks slip to 9-7 on the campaign.

For WSU, senior Zach George (Attleboro, MA) and classmate Cody Osburn (Sacramento, CA) both finished with two hits apiece as George touched home plate twice and he scored the game-winning run in the tenth, following his triple to lead off the frame.

Senior Matthew Consigli (Whitinsville, MA) went 4-for-6 with a trio of stolen bases and two runs to propel the visitors while sophomore TJ Sempkowski (Oceanport, NJ), classmate Niko Bedell (Manorville, NY) and junior Sean Stone (Blackstone, MA) all contributed to a pair of base-knocks each.

Trailing 6-3 entering the top of the fifth, Becker got two runs back on an RBI single by Sepkowski and Consigli swiped home after a pickoff attempt by the catcher on a throw to first base.

The Hawks then took over the 8-6 margin in the seventh. Taking advantage of a dropped out at second on a fielder's choice attempt to get the lead runner, Bedell smashed a two-run double before he came around to score on an errant throw by the third baseman, for the final out of the stanza at first.

Becker tacked on an important run in the top of the ninth on a RBI ground out by freshman Francis Baldino (E. Brookfield, MA).

With the three-run cushion in sight, the Lancers got to junior Nick Lemay (Oxford, MA) with a rally in the last of the ninth to knot up the score at 9-9.

Sparked by a solo homer to right field by Barry, senior David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA) reached on a high throw by the shortstop and then Osburn followed with a double to put the tying runs on second and third.

After Ruggiero tallied the eighth run on a balk by senior Matt Camara (S. Attleboro, MA), the equalizer was scored after the third baseman's low flick to first hit the dirt and couldn't be handled by the first baseman for the third out of the inning.

In the bottom of the tenth, George connected on a triple into the deep part of right field to lead the charge to end the game. With the bases juiced after intentional walks by senior Jeff Bolio (Oxford, MA) and Barry, Ruggiero was hit by the first pitch of his plate appearance to drive in George from third to end the contest in a walk-off victory.

Barry and Ruggiero both had RBI singles to give the hosts the early 2-1 advantage.

The Lancers tacked on four more runs for the 6-3 edge on run producing at-bats by Osburn and junior Steve Wallace (Auburn, MA) in the third before Barry rapped out a two-run double to highlight the bottom of the fourth.

Becker tallied their first score of the contest on misplayed pop-up by the second baseman. Sempkowski had a run scoring ground out in the top of the third and Baldino crossed home plate in the fourth after a misplayed ball by the centerfielder on a solo knock in the outfield by Stone. 

Senior Joe Perlak (Chicopee, MA) earned the victory in relief. Perlak (3-1), who moved his career record to 11-3, gave up an unearned run the top of the ninth. 

Camara (0-2) was tagged with the setback in relief for the Hawks. Lemay was solid in his 8 1/3 frames of work before permitting the tying runs to reach base in the bottom of the ninth. He gave up nine runs (five earned) to go with two walks and two strikeouts on 104 pitches (66 strikes).

From the fifth through the eighth, Lemay set down 12 of the 14 batters he faced to put up zeros for four consecutive frames in the late stages of the contest.

Becker actually outhit their counterparts, 14-11, as the Sunday matinee featured 11 combined errors between the two squads. Nine of the 19 runs scored were of the unearned variety.

Worcester State will play again on Tuesday in a road MASCAC doubleheader against Fitchburg State starting at 2 PM. The Hawks take on Westfield State on Monday in a 3:45 away contest.

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