N. Dartmouth, MA --- Junior teamates Zach George (Attleboro, MA) and Nick Gikas (Danvers, MA) along with senior Joe Carlier (Rockland, MA) all contributed three hits apiece as they helped lead Worcester State to a 6-4 victory over UMass Dartmouth in non-conference baseball action this afternoon at the UMD Baseball Complex.

With the win the Lancers improve to 22-14 overall while the Corsairs even out to 18-18 on the season.

Carlier and Gikas started a rally in the top of the second when they both reached base with singles. Freshman Nick Cardoni (Oxford, MA) then followed with an RBI solo saftey through the left side and George finished things off going the other way in the infield with a run producing base knock for the early 2-0 advantage.

Gikas helped score a pair of runs in the very next inning as sliced a two-run single to the gap in right center to help score freshman Joe Kasper (Lynn, MA) and junior Jeff Bolio (Oxford, MA).

But Mass Dartmouth cut the deficit in half with single runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings to trail 4-2.

In the top of the seventh, the Lancers notched a key tally. Bolio took advantage of a misfired throw by the catcher after a swipe of second and came all the way around to score.

The run proved to be an imporotant one as senior Newton rapped out a two-RBI single which made it a 5-3 contest in the bottom of the eighth.

Worcester State though notched an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Freshman Jake Ryan (Whitinsville, MA) led off the frame with a triple and he scampered home on a passed ball to make it a two-run ball game.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Corsairs put runners on the corners with one out, but junior David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA) retired the final two batters for his first collegiate save on the mound.

The Blue and Gold used six relief pitchers in a staff day to keep their bullpen fresh for the upcoming conference tournament this weekend. Freshman Tyler Barrie (Oxford, MA) earned the winning decision as he tossed a pair of scoreless frames with the 2-0 advantage.

Worcester State pitching allowed four earned runs on nine hits to go wtih six strikeouts and two walks.

Kasper and Cardoni also finished with two base-knocks each to help the visitors outslug their opponents, 16-9.

The Lancers will play again on Friday in the quarterfinals of the MASCAC Tournament and take on the winner of the fourth-seeded Westfield State and #5 Fitchburg State contest.

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