Worcester State Swept by Westfield State in MASCAC Opener

WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Worcester State University baseball team was swept by Westfield State in Saturday's Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) opener as the Owls edged the Lancers 4-3 in the first game, and then shutout Worcester State in the second game of the day.

With the wins, Westfield State improves to 12-4 overall and starts conference plate with a 2-0 slate. Worcester State dips to 6-10 overall and are still in search of their first MASCAC win.

GAME ONE: Westfield State 4, Worcester State 3

In the conference opener, Westfield State won the game in the bottom of the 7^th inning when John Lippincott (Barkhamsted, Conn.) singled to left field and scored pinch runner Kyle Murphy (Westfield, Mass.) after he was placed on base by a Dan Rokitowski (Wappinger Falls, N.Y.) double earlier in the inning.

Worcester State started the scoring in the top of the 1^st when Mike Ferrara (Easton, Mass.) hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, plating Palatino for the first run of the game.

Westfield State had a stunning bottom half of the inning, as they scored three runs on four hits from Rokitowski, Alex Lafayette (Ludlow, Mass.), Lippincott, and Aaron Clancy (Quincy, Mass.).

Worcester State chipped away at the two point deficit and added one run in the top of the 4^th, and another in the top of the 5^th to tie the game at 3-3. It wasn't until the bottom of the 7^th inning that another team was able to score, and Westfield State pulled out the win on Lippincott's game-winning RBI.

Offensively, Lippincott led the Owls with three hits and two RBI, while Worcester State's Adam Barry (Auburn, Mass.) went 3-for-4 from the plate with a double and an RBI.

Westfield's closing pitcher, Tyler Tongue (Hampden, Mass.) earned the victory on the mound as he pitched the final inning and only allowed one hit in four batters faced.

Worcester State's pitcher, Tyler Barrie (Oxford, Mass.) suffered the loss, allowing four runs on 11 hits. Barrie struck out four Westfield State batters in the 7-inning performance.

GAME TWO: Westfield State 3, Worcester State 0

The Westfield Owls completed the sweep as they shutout the Lancers 3-0 in the second game of the day.

Owls pitcher, Matt Nunes (Taunton, Mass.) pitched a complete-game shutout as he only allowed the Lancers two hits in the appearance. He walked one batter and struck out seven at the dish.

Worcester State's pitcher, Luke Brennan (Worcester, Mass.) also gave a striking performance as he pitched six innings and struck out six batters. Brennan only allotted four hits, however, the Owls were able to score the three runs on a home run from Rokitowski and two RBI from Colin Dunn (Westfield, Mass.).

The Lancers return to action tomorrow (Apr. 9) when they host Mass. Maritime in a 12 p.m. twinbill.