Salem, MA --- With a solid pair of performances on the rubber by Salem State junior Ryan Hyjek (Tolland, CT) and sophomore Cato Lacroix (Holliston, MA), the Vikings swept Worcester State, 4-0 and 1-0, on the opening weekend of MASCAC play on Saturday afternoon.
Hyjek was outstanding for Salem State in the opener as he fired a one-hit shutout with eight strikeouts and just one walk.
The Vikings (6-8, 1-1 MASCAC) took over the 2-0 lead in the top of the first when junior Matt Burgess (Kingston, MA) walked in a run with the bases loaded and classmate Kyle McElroy (Newburyport, MA) scampered home on a passed ball.
Salem State added to their lead with another score in the very next inning when they had a man at every base and one out. McElroy crossed the plate when he was hit by the pitch. But the Lancers ended the threat when senior Nick Bonofiglio (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) spun a double-play to end the threat.
Bonofiglio (0-3) was touched up for one more run in the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by junior Mike Lamothe (Beverly, MA). He went the distance doing what he could to keep his team in the game while he finished the contest striking out one and walking five.
The Lancers (5-10, 1-1 MASCAC) lone base-knock in the contest came in the form of a double by sophomore David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA) to lead off the bottom of the fifth, but he was stranded at third as the Lancers could not break the shutout.
Burgess and senior Steve Buitkus (Reading, MA) both were 2-for-3 for the Vikings as they finished with seven safeties. Hyjek improved his season mark to 2-0 with the triumph.
In the nightcap, Lacroix (1-2) tossed a three-hitter with 11 strikeouts for Salem State. He also issued a pair of free passes.
Worcester State senior Alex Teal (Malden, MA) matched the effort as he went the distance, but he shouldered the tough-luck setback by giving up the lone earned run in the contest. Teal (2-3) ended his day by scattering a trio of hits to go with four walks and six strikeouts.
Salem State scored all they needed to win the game in the top of the first inning. Butikus started off the contest with a walk and then he moved to second on a sacrifice. McElroy then followed with a run producing single.
The Vikings did threaten several times to add to their lead, but Teal stranded the instance runner 90-feet away in the top of the third and fifth innings.
Lacroix, on the other hand, dominated the Lancers line-up in the second contest as he used strikeouts with runners on base to neutralize Worcester State's line-up.
The Blue and Gold did threaten in the last of the seventh when sophomore Zach George (Attleboro, MA) reached on a lead-off double. However, Lacroix reached back and fanned the side to end the game.
McElroy was 2-for-2 in the nightcap while George contributed a 2-for-3 effort at the plate for the Lancers.
In an odd twist, both squads will travel to Rhode Island College after the Easter Holiday. Salem State gets the first crack on Monday before Worcester State heads to Providence on Tuesday. Both games feature a 3:30 first-pitch.