Lancers, Vikings Split Opening MASCAC Doubleheader

SALEM, Mass. – Joey Zawisza (Newington, Conn.) went five innings, and allowed just two runs on six hits to help Worcester State to a 10-2 win and a split of their Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) baseball doubleheader at Salem State on Saturday afternoon.  

Jack Sefrino (Dartmouth, Mass.) went seven strong innings as Salem State opened up the day with a 3-2 win over Worcester State in the first game of their scheduled doubleheader at The Central Campus Baseball Field.

Worcester State is now 7-8 and 1-1 on the year while the Vikings go to 9-7 and 1-1 in the MASCAC.

Game One: Salem State 3, Worcester State 2

Sefrino out-dueled Worcester State starter Ben Smith (Bourne, Mass.), allowing six hits and a pair of earned runs with a walk and seven strikeouts in improving to 2-2 on the year.

Neither pitcher allowed a run over the first four innings. The Lancers took a 1-0 lead in the fifth on an RBI single by Tom Halliwell (Leominster, Mass.). The Vikings went on top 2-1 in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Jake Boucher (Wallingford, Conn.) and a single by Derek Angell (Whitinsville, Mass.). Salem State increased their lead to 3-1 in the sixth as Edward Field (Gloucester, Mass.) scored on a passed ball. Worcester State closed to within 3-2 in the top of the seventh on a groundout by Chris Wright (Jefferson, Mass.), but Sefrino ended the game with a strikeout with the game-tying run on second base. 

Smith (0-1) allowed three runs – two earned on seven hits with six strikeouts and a pair of walks in the loss. Alex Sorenti Burns (Sagamore Beach, Mass.) went 2-for-3 for the Lancers. Boucher finished 2-for-2 with an RBI for Salem State.

Game Two: Worcester State 10, Salem State 2

The Lancers jumped on top 5-0 in the second game. Sean Whitney-Dutton (Leominster,  Mass.) doubled in the first run for Worcester State before Wright made it 2-0 with a base hit to left. Another single by Thomas DiBattista (Hudson, Mass.) produced the third run. A sacrifice by Chris Ausiello (Tyngsboro, Mass.) and an error added two more runs for the Lancers.

A bases loaded walk to Tim Catalano (Brewter, N.Y.) gave Salem State their first run in the second.

However, the Lancers pitchers allowed just one run the rest of the way. Zawisa struck out five and walked two to earn the win. Danny DiMassimo (Pittsfield, Mass.) and Kyle Cravatis (Beverly, Mass.) combined for two scoreless innings in relief.

Leading, 7-2 in the seventh, Worcester State tacked on three more runs on a wild pitch, a bases loaded walk to Michael Mabee (Suagus, Mass.) and a single by Sean Devin (Lynn, Mass.).

Salem State used six pitchers with starter Brock Pare (Lowell, Mass.) taking the loss after giving up six runs – three earned on five hits and two strikeouts in 3.0 innings.

Devin and Wright each had two hits and an RBI for Worcester State, combining for three runs scored. Zach Piroh (Statford, Conn.) and Bobby Jellison (Salem, Mass.) each had a pair of hits for the Vikings.