Baseball, Westfield State Draw Split In MASCAC Series

Westfield, MA --- Worcester State and Westfield State drew even, splitting a MASCAC doubleheader this afternoon at Bud and Jim Hagan Field.

Owl junior Danny DiMatteo (Dennis, MA) went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a pair of swipes to helped the hosts win 6-3 in the opener before senior Kris Doyle (Millbury, MA) went the distance on the mound en-route to helping the Lancers earn the split with a 7-2 triumph.

In the second game, with the Lancers (19-14, 8-4 MASCAC) put up a crooked number to take a 3-1 edge in the top of the third.

Sophomore Adam Barry (Auburn, MA/Holy Name) plated senior Nick Gikas (Danvers, MA) on a sacrifice fly before senior Zach George (Attleboro, MA) scored on a miscue by the third baseman and sophomore Jake Ryan (Whitinsville, MA) scampered home on a double steal play.

The Blue and Gold put the game away in the fifth by stringing together five consecutive base-knocks. Senior Jeff Bolio (Oxford, MA), sophomore Mike Powers (Weymouth, MA) and classmate Dan McGuill (E. Longmeadow, MA) all registered run producing at-bats to give WSU a commanding 7-1 margin.

Doyle (3-3) was solid, allowing two earned runs over seven frames while scattering eight base-knocks. He fanned seven and issued just one free pass.

Sophomore Nick Cunningham (Ashland, MA) shouldered the setback in the defeat. Cunningham (2-1) surrendered seven runs (four earned) on nine hits as he walked four and rung up five on strikes.

Westfield State (18-8, 5-5 MASCAC) touched Doyle for scores in the bottom of the first on a DiMatteo RBI single and senior Tim Santilli (Southbridge, MA) tacked on another score by driving in junior Dan McCormack (Shelton, CT) in the fifth.

George, Bolio, senior David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA) and senior Cody Osburn (Sacramento, CA) all pounded out two hits each for the Lancers to pace a hitting attack that outslugged their opponents 11-8.

In the opener, the Owls took advantage of a fielding error by the shortstop in the opening frame for the early 3-0 lead which was underscored on a two-run double by DiMatteo.

Due in large part to senior Ben Libuda (Auburn, MA) putting up zeros over a four inning stretch, he gave the Lancers a chance to rally.

Ruggiero and Osburn both notched RBI singles in the top of the fifth and then Bolio had a hand in the equalizer in the very next frame. Bolio tripled to lead off the stanza and then he crossed the plate on a misplayed squeeze bunt by the hosts for the 3-3 score.

But Westfield State tallied three times in the bottom of the sixth for the victory against a tiring Libuda. McCormack and senior Jeremy Tanguay (Huntington, MA) both had RBI base-knocks as Tanguay came home on a misplayed ball at second base.

Libuda (4-2) absorbed the loss for the visitors. He permitted six runs (two earned) on seven hits to go with three walks and four strikeouts.

Senior Paul Cassidy (Bluffinton, SC) improved to 2-1 in the win. Cassidy hurled six frames, allowing three runs (two earned), eight hits, three walks and four punch outs. Junior Peter Linmatainen (W. Barnstable, MA) tied the MASCAC lead with his fifth stop in a scoreless seventh.

Barry, Ruggiero and Osburn led a line-up that held a 9-7 edge in total hits.

Worcester State closes out their MASCAC slate with a doubleheader in North Adams against MCLA on Saturday at 1 PM. The Owls take on Eastern Connecticut tomorrow at 4 PM in a meeting at home.