Worcester State 8, Anna Maria 4
Paxton, MA --- Junior classmates TJ Magnell (Leominster, MA-3B) and Nick Dortona (Malden, MA-SS) went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two runs batted in as Worcester State defeated Anna Maria, 8-4, in non-conference baseball action. The Lancers, winners of seven of their last nine games, improve their record to 14-9 while the AMCATS slip to 10-18-1.
Sophomore starter Bobby Devito (Webster, MA) tossed three scoreless innings before he was touched for a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Sophomore Jeff Kody's (Holden, MA-1B) and junior Judd Evanrts (N. Ferrisbury, VT-2B) each hit run producing singles to take advantage of a bases loaded situation and open up a 2-0 lead for Anna Maria.
Devito would only pitch four innings as he would end the afternoon with five strikeouts.
Anna Maria sophomore southpaw Jim McNamara (Worcester, MA) retired the first nine batters he faced before giving up a lead-off walk to senior Matt Hart (N. Easton, MA-CF) in the bottom of the fourth. Magnell then took advantage of the situation as he kept his 10-game hit streak alive with an RBI triple to score Hart.
Sophomore Nick Fluegge (Ware, MA-1B) then knotted the score as he reached first on an error in the infield allowing Magnell to score on the play. After a walk and a fielder's choice moved Fluegge to third, he scored when sophomore Johno Hinkell (North Adams, MA-C) distracted the infield in a run down play.
Anna Maria responded as they knotted the game up 3-3 in the top of the fifth. Sophomore Andy Fallon (Worcester, MA-SS) started the frame with a lead-off double off of senior reliever Craig McBride (Attleboro, MA) and he later crossed the plate on a single to right center by classmate Alex Roycewicz (Oxford, MA-3B).
In the bottom of the fifth Worcester State took the lead for good as they would make the score 5-3 on a two-run triple by Hart after junior Ryan LaPrade (Leominster, MA-2B) and Dortona each reached with back-to-back singles.
The AMCATS got a run back in the seventh as they took advantage of another bases loaded situation. Fallon led off the inning with a walk and moved to third after McBride hit the next two batters. McBride then notched a big strikeout for the second out before hitting Kody to walk in a run. McBride would escape the jam as he fanned the next batter to end the inning.
Worcester State then seized control of the games momentum and scored three more runs over the next two innings to open up the contest. Magnell drove in a run in the seventh and then Dortona tacked on a pair of runs in the eighth with a single through the left side.
Junior Kevin Hayes (Medford, MA) and senior closer Pat Good (Hull, MA) then came in and threw a scoreless inning each to shut the visitors down and end the contest.
McNamara evened out his record to 3-3 in the loss as he went six innings allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits while he walked two and struck out five.
McBride (3-3) earned the win as he tossed three innings allowing just two runs to go along with three hits, five punch outs and one walk.
The AMCATS had a frustrating day at the plate as they left nine men on base which included four in scoring position. Fallon and Roycewicz each ended with two hits apiece.
Worcester State will host Salem State at WPI in a conference doubleheader at 2:30 PM as they look to remain undefeated in MASCAC play on Friday. The AMCATS will take a week off and travel to face Becker at 3:30 next Tuesday.