Worcester State Sweeps Bridgewater State in MASCAC Doubleheader

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester State University baseball team swept the visiting Bridgewater State Bears by scores 3-1 and 5-4 in Friday afternoon Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC), including a come-from-behind win in the nightcap, at the Kevin D. Lyons Diamond.

With the sweep, the Lancers advance to 9-12 overall, and 3-3 in the MASCAC. The Bears dip to 7-13 overall, and 1-5 in the league.

GAME ONE: Worcester State 3, Bridgewater State 1

Worcester State's Tyler Barrie (Oxford, Mass.) pitched a complete game and earned his first win of the season as the Lancers defeated Bridgewater State 3-1in the first game of the afternoon. Barrie held the visitors to just one run on three hits and struck out a season-high eight at the plate.

The Lancers' rookie Ben Palatino (Hudson, Mass.) led the offense, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a double.

Bridgewater's three hits were scattered between Ryan Kelleher (Danvers, Mass), Ryan Feeney (East Bridgewater, Mass), Alex Carey (East Bridgewater, Mass).

The Lancers began the scoring in the bottom of the 1^st inning when they registered one run on two hits. Palatino and Ryan reached base on infield hits, from where Palatino scored on a ground out.

The Blue and Gold added another run in the bottom of the 3^rd when Adam Barry (Auburn, Mass.) plated Jimmy Sheehan (Oxford, Mass) on an RBI groundout.

Bridgewater State broke Barrie's no-hitter in the top of the 4^th when Kelleher singled through the left side. Two additional Bears reached base on an error and a walk. However, the senior pitcher was able to bring the Lancers out of the inning scoreless.

Worcester State tallied their final run of the game in the bottom of the 4^th on a sacrifice fly from Mike Powers (Weymouth, Mass.).

Bridgewater State scored their lone run of the game in the top of the 6^th on a solo homer from Feeney.

Bridgewater State's Connor Birch (Bellingham, Mass) was tabbed the loss on the mound, as he pitched six innings and allowed three runs (one unearned) on five hits.

GAME TWO: Worcester State 5, Bridgewater State 4

Brian Bonacquisti (Pittsfield, Mass) scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the 7^th inning in the Lancers' 5-4 comeback, which included three runs in the inning.

Both teams scored in the 1^st inning. Bridgewater scored on a Davide Tamarez (Roxbury, Mass.) RBI double to right field that scored Matt Cassese (Taunton, Mass). Worcester State answered with a sacrifice fly from Seth Leslie (Phillipston, Mass) that plated Palatino.

The Lancers took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning when Kenan Kolanda (Sterling, Mass.) scored on an error at the plate.

In the top of the 7^th, Bridgewater gained a three-run lead thanks to five singles in a row from Feeney, Carey, Tyler Morini (Plymouth, Mass), Reed Pike (Bellingham, Mass), and Zack Churchey  (West Wareham, Mass).

In the bottom of the 7^th, the Lancers benefited from Bridgewater State's defensive mistakes. Two errors along with three walks allowed the Lancers to engineer their comeback.

Offensively, Feeney led all batters, going 4-for-4 in game two, hitting three singles and a double.

On the mound, Kyle Baker (Fresno, Calif.) was awarded the win for the Lancers. Thomas Protentis (Lakeville, Mass) was charged with the loss, as he pitched 1/3 of an inning giving up two runs and one walk.