Worcester State Wraps Up Regular Season with 8-7 Loss to Becker

ROCHDALE, Mass. – The Worcester State University baseball team wrapped up its regular season play Tuesday evening with an 8-7 non-conference loss to Becker College at Rochdale Park.

The Hawks scored their eight runs on nine hits and two Worcester State errors, while the Lancers scored the seven runs on 11 hits and one Becker error.

Worcester State hopped off to a 2-0 lead in the first two innings of play as Colin Medeiros (Fall River, Mass.) hit an RBI double in the top of the 1^st to score Brian Poillucci (No. Attleboro, Mass.). Josh Creamer (Worcester, Mass.) then scored another in the top of the 2^nd on a wild pitch.

The Hawks then had a strong 2^nd inning and plated three runs on five hits to take the 3-2 advantage. Evan Barrera (W. Warwick, R.I.) began the inning with a double to left-center, however, he made an out as he attempted to make his double a triple. After another out, Becker's Nick Harriman (Harrisville, R.I.) notched a solo home run to left field. A double, single, and triple from Michael Bianco (Manorville, N.Y.), Tanyon Ventres (Holden, Mass.), and Josiah Shepard (Providence, R.I.) turned into two additional runs for the hosts.

Worcester State stole the lead back once again in the 4^th when the Lancers tallied three runs on five hits. Chadd Richardson (Bristol, Conn.) started the inning with a triple to right center, and scored on a passed ball to knot the score at 3-3. Back-to-back singles from Brian Bonacquisti (Pittsfield, Mass.), Creamer, and Evan Wedlock (Fort Myers, Fla.) led to another run, while Poillucci tallied the third run of the inning on an RBI double down the left field line.

The Lancers improved their lead to three in the 5^th inning when Wedlock registered an RBI on a walk with bases loaded. However, Becker knotted the score once again as they marked three runs on a throwing error and a two-run home run from Niko Bedell (Manorville, N.Y.), putting the score at 6-6.

Becker came out on top following the 7^th inning as Ventras stole home, and Daniel Diaz (Teaneck, N.J.) hit a sacrifice fly for the 8-6 go-ahead.

Worcester State was only able to add one more run to the scoreboard in the 8^th when Adam Barry (Auburn, Mass.) hit an RBI groundout to plate Wedlock.

Wedlock led the Blue and Gold offensively with three hits, one walk, one run, and two RBI while Medeiros picked up two hits, a run, and an RBI.

Both teams utilized their bullpen in today's contest, as Worcester State saw seven different pitchers, and Becker saw six. Becker's Christopher LaDou (Worcester, Mass.) earned the win, while Vailbhav Desai (Waltham, Mass.) earned the save. Worcester State's Sam Allen (Springfield, Mass.) suffered the loss in one inning pitched.

Next up, the Lancers host No. 5 MCLA in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) first round game at the Kevin D. Lyons Diamond on Thursday, May 4^th.