Cordani Rakes Bases Clearing Double In Loss To The Beacons

Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Baseball team (5-17, 4-6) look to rebound in an out of conference game versus UMass-Boston (18-9, 8-2) this afternoon. Worcester has lost their last five games and are looking to get back on the winning track before returning to conference play this weekend and hope to use the Beacons as their launching pad into the stretch.

Final

UMass-Boston: 15

Worcester State: 9

How it Happened:

Right hander Evan Samsel (0-0)(6.00 ERA) was called upon for the start against UMASS Boston. Samsel entered the contest with three appearances and six innings pitched. On the opposing side, the Beacons marched out senior right hander Logan Lawrence (0-0)(3.38 ERA).

The Beacons struck first in this one as there was one out in the bottom of the second when senior outfielder Luke Leavitt doubled to left field. Samsel walked sophomore catcher Max Garner, now with two outs junior outfielder Mariano Jimenez doubled to left center, scoring Leavitt while advancing Garner to third. Sophomore outfielder Justin Gouveia singled to left, scoring both runners giving the Beacons a three run lead.

During the top of the fourth inning, the Lancers would cut the lead down by one. With two outs in the top of the third, two time Rookie of the Week Ryan Jewett forced a walk, junior centerfielder Anthoney Iamarone singled to advance him. Logan trying to catch Iamarone sleeping sailed a pick off attempt into right field, bringing Jewett around third and home for the Lancers first run of the game. The half inning ended with a score of 3-1.

The Beacons created a flurry of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, piling on five runs to further their lead. Senior infielder Aidan Blake walked to begin the inning followed by a hit batter from the arm of Samsel. Designated hitter Mike Meagher bunted for a single, advancing first-year Brandon Gaer and Blake into scoring position with Garner singling to left for an RBI to load the bases. Garner followed with a double down the leftfield line to clear the bases. With two outs, second-year head coach Phil Price went to his bullpen ending Samsels afternoon calling upon senior Joseph Morgan (Shrewsbury, MA) coming on in relief as the righty effectively ended the inning on his next batter faced. 

The top of the fourth would see a pitching change with graduate student Max Moss was called on in relief for LAWRENCE. The first two hitters advancing on stolen bases as the first was hit by a pitch and stealing second with the second batter being walked. Meagher flew out to center for a sac fly for a ENTER LEAD. 

The Lancers countered in the top of the fifth to putting up a run on new pitcher as the Beacons called upon another arm for relief as sophomore lefthander Jake Silveria made his way to the mound for the start of the inning. First-year Raymi Medina (Lawrence, MA) led off the top of the fifth with a double down the left field line. First-year shortstop Jose DeLacruz singled to drive in a run. 

UMASS Boston struck again in the bottom of the fifth scoring six runs. The bases were instantly loaded on three straight batters. Morgan hit a batter to bring in the first run followed by a walk to bring in another run followed by a hit batsman to score another. That would be it for Morgan with first-year lefty Teddy Cove being inserted into the lineup. Cove's first batter singled to score two runs. With one out , Garner singled to center once again loading the bases. First-year pinch hitter Ryan Slack pinch hit for Garner, popping up to centerfield for a sac fly and the last run of the half inning for the Beacons, the score 14-1. 

First-year Hunter Ward would be entered into the game for UMASS, pitching a scoreless top of the sixth. The Lancers also made a pitching change, calling upon Jack Farrell (Burrillville, R.I.) (0-1) who was able to escape the inning with only one hit. Junior right hander Steve Grenham (Norwood, MA) took the mound for the bottom of seventh. The bases loaded with two outs, Grenham walked in a run making the score 15-1. Senior left-hander Aidan McMillan on the bump for UMASS allowed four runs with the help of a double by sophomore Chris Cordani (Holliston, MA). Junior Andrew Medina (Boston, MA) rocked a leadoff double followed by senior third baseman Tom Halliwell (Leominster, MA) reaching on an error. Ward loaded the bases after walking sophomore Aaron Siegal (Abington, MA) setting up junior Mason Bates (Shrewsbury, MA) for a sac fly to center, scoring Medina and making it a 15-2 ballgame. DeLacruz would be hit by a pitch to reload the bases when Cordani raked the double into left center to clear the bases for three RBIs.

The game ended with a final score of 15-2 UMASS. 

What's Next:

With the final out, Worcester State now waits at (5-18, 4-6) and will return to conference action on Friday, April 19th, when they host Bridgewater State for nine starting at 3:30pm.