Lancers Claim the Sweep over Rams, Price Records No Hitter

Worcester, MA—After a washed-out weekend last weekend and an expected repeat this weekend, the Worcester State Baseball team (13-6, 4-2) is back in action on a Friday afternoon for the second straight week as they journey to Framingham State to face off for two against the Rams. 

Final

Game 1

Worcester State: 9

Framingham State: 0

Game 2

Worcester State: 8

Framingham State: 6

How it Happened:

Game 1: 

Worcester State jumped out to an early advantage at the top of the first inning, raking in four runs. Senior Mason Bates (Shrewsbury, MA) initiated the scoring by coming home on a bases-loaded walk by sophomore sophomore Tyler Normandie (Lowell, MA). Senior Anthony Iamarone (Providence, R.I.) chipped in with a groundout to third that brought first-year Riggs Catlin (Dedham, MA) home. Junior Joe Auger (Lowell, MA) provided the big hit, a single to left field that brought around Normandie and senior Tyler Smith (Leominster, MA) home to cap off a big inning.

The fifth inning would see the Lancers tap on an additional two as Smith would double to left field to get in base and immediately be sent right back home on a Normandie double. A junior Nathan Thurber (Framingham, MA) single to left field would send across the second of Tempe inning to provide a 6-0 lead for Worcester.

Worcester State continued their advance in the top of the sixth. Senior Mason Bates (Shrewsbury, MA) crossed on a wild pitch with Catlin advancing to third base. Normandie came through again, singling to left and advancing to second on the throw, scoring both Smith and Catlin for two more runs.

Sophomore Gavin Price (Worcester, MA) would carry the perfect game into the bottom of the seventh where a walk on the second batter would end that dream but not the victory hopes as he would force a ground out and a strikeout to wrap up the game one no hitter.

Game 2:

Worcester State wasted no time in scoring in the second game. Normandie had a sacrifice fly to right field, bringing home Catlin for the first run. Iamarone followed soon after with a two-run home run to left, bringing in Smith and giving Worcester State a 3-0 lead early. The Rams would answer back with their first run of the day in the bottom of the inning to settle the score into the second at 3-1. 

In the top of the third, Worcester State tacked onto their lead with a mix of smart base running and defensive miscues. Smith crossed the plate on a double play grounded into by Thurber while Normandie made it to third. Auger then reached on an error by the shortstop and came all the way around to score on a second error by the left fielder, with Normandie also crossing the plate. Senior Xavier Quezada (Providence, R.I.) added an exclamation point to the inning with an RBI infield single, scoring Auger to further increase the lead. The Rams would again snatch back two runs to move the score to 6-3 but an additional cushion run at the top of the fourth on a first year Chris Mondesir (Roslindale, MA) homerun to centerfield would put the game at a four run gap. The Lancers would record their eighth and final run in the top of the fifth as Mondesir was back in on the action with a bunt that would send in Quezada from  third for the 8-3 lead. Framingham would attempt to mount a comeback in the back end of the game, scoring three more runs before the Lancers were able to square up the game with an 8-6 final and double header sweep.

What's Next:

Worcester State (15-6, 6-2) is expected to return home on Monday at 3 pm to meet up for the single-game set versus the Rams as they start a five-game conference slate next week.