Lancers Drop Rubber Match to Vikings Despite Ninth-Inning Surge

WORCESTER, Mass. – Worcester State scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth but stranded the tying run on base as they dropped the rubber match of a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) series with a 7-6 loss to Salem State on Monday afternoon at Lyons Diamond.

The Lancers (7-9, 1-2 MASCAC) and Vikings (10-7, 2-1 MASCAC) had split their doubleheader in Salem over the weekend.

Left fielder Anthony Iamarone (Providence, R.I.) and first baseman Sean Devin (Lynn, Mass.) each had three hits for the Lancers, with Iamarone driving in a pair of runs on a single to left field with two outs during the ninth inning rally.

Salem State took the lead with two runs in the top of the first and added another in the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Derek Angell (Whitinsville, Mass.). The Vikings had 12 hits in the game, including multi-hit days by Jake Boucher (Wallingford, Conn.), Zach Piroh (Stratford, Conn.), Edward Field (Gloucester, Mass.), Bobby Jellison (Salem, Mass.) and Tim Catalano (Brewster, N.Y.).

Devin scored on a balk in the bottom of the fifth to get Worcester on the scoreboard, but Catalano doubled home Field, and Christian Burt (Lynn, Mass.) stole home as part of a two-run top of the sixth for the Vikings.

Field and Jellison added RBI hits in a four-hit, two-run top of the seventh and the Vikings led 7-1 in support of Juan Hurtado (Homestead, Fla.), who went six innings of four-hit ball, allowing just one unearned run to improve to 2-0.

After a Chris Wright (Jefferson, Mass.) sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh, the Lancers came up to bat in the ninth down by five and immediately loaded the bases with two singles and an error. Wright drove home another run with a sacrifice fly, and Tom Halliwell (Leominster, Mass.) picked up an RBI on a deep foul ball that went for a sacrifice as well.

Iamarone plated two with a single to left field, but with two outs, the Vikings turned to Greg Gentle (Arlington, Mass.), who induced a fly ball to center field to end the game and earn his first save of the year.

Cole Glassburn (Hopkinton, Mass.) takes the loss (2-2) with six innings of work, allowing three earned runs. Glassburn struck out four and the Lancers didn't walk a batter on the day. Danny DiMassimo (Pittsfield, Mass.) threw a perfect two innings of relief.

The Lancers are set to play a single game against Eastern Nazarene on Wednesday at 3:30 PM as part of D3Week celebrations across campus.

Salem State hosts Endicott at the same time and date.