Worcester, MA --- Senior teammates Jared Kuzio (Franklin, MA) and Joe Perlak (Chicopee, MA) hurled a pair of stellar pitching performances with complete games as they helped paced Worcester State in a 11-2 and 4-3 sweep over local rival Nichols this afternoon in non-conference baseball action at the Lyons Baseball Diamond.
With the victories, the Lancers moved to 10-9 overall while the Bison fell to 1-6. Due to unplayable field conditions, Nichols was the home team in both contests.
In the opener, Kuzio (1-1) went the distance for the fifth time in his career as he permitted two earned runs while scattering seven hits. Kuzio also rung up three on strikes and he walked one on 102 pitches (62 strikes).
Sophomore Jake Ryan (Whitinsville, MA) went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three runs scored.
Senior David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA), classmate Cody Osburn (Sacramento, CA) and sophomore Dan McGuill (E. Longmeadow, MA) all notched two base-knocks each to lead the hit parade as senior Zach George (Attleboro, MA) made three trips to home plate.
Worcester State opened the contest with the early 5-0 lead after two innings of play. Ruggiero and Osburn drove in scores in the top of the first before McGuill and George plated runs in the second inning.
The Lancers increased their margin with a three-run fourth, highlighted by a two-run double by Ryan, taking advantage of a pair of miscues.
Nichols broke up the shutout in the bottom of the fourth when freshman Spencer Madden (Nashua, NH) had an RBI single to bring sophomore Mike Piekarczyk (Dudley, MA) home from third.
WSU put the contest away in the sixth with a trio of runs in the sixth for the 11-1 score. Following an RBI ground-out by sophomore Adam Barry (Auburn, MA/Holy Name), Ruggiero rapped out a run producing single and he eventually came around to score on a wild pitch.
The last tally of the game came on a run scoring at-bat in the bottom of the seventh by Piekarczyk with the bases juiced.
Freshman Zach Morgillo (Hamden, CT) suffered the loss for Nichols. His record dropped to 0-2 in the setback while freshman Nick Limoges (Easthampton, MA) pitched a scoreless seventh.
Freshman Nick Roy (Middletown, CT), freshman Spencer Madden (Nashua, NH) and freshman Greg Eng (Middletown, RI) all had two singles for the Bison.
In the second contest, Nichols took over the 2-0 edge with single runs in the second and fourth innings. Madden blasted his first career home run for a solo shot down the left field line and then he plated freshman Nick Osma (Babylon, NY), who led off the fourth with a double.
After leaving two runners in scoring position and one out in the previous frame, Worcester State got to freshman Vincent Amato (Brooklyn, NY) in the top of the sixth by taking over the 4-2 margin.
Osburn belted a deep two-run double over the head of the center fielder to tie up the score and then sophomore Brian Bonacquisti (Pittsfield, MA) tacked on two key insurance runs with a two-bagger into the gap in right center to bring home Osburn and junior John Boyd (Worcester, MA/Worcester Tech).
The plate appearance by Bonaquisti loomed large in the last of the seventh, when the Bison made things interesting with two men down
Roy and sophomore Matt Hardy (N. Attleboro, MA) both singled to help start the rally before both runners advanced one base on a field pickoff attempt by the pitcher that went into right field.
As Hardy stood at second and Piekarczyk was at the plate down by a run, Perlak reached back and fanned the final batter on a swinging strike out to end the contest.
Perlak (2-1) yielded three runs (two earned) to go with nine hits and four strikeouts on 97 pitches (67 strikes). He did not allow a free pass, but he did hit two batters.
Amato (0-2) absorbed the loss for the Bison as he went 5 2/3 innings, giving up four earned runs on nine hits. Amato also recorded one walk and a solo punch out.
Both squads had nine hits each in the night cap. The multi-hitters for Worcester State were Ruggiero, Osburn and Bonaquisti while Madden was 3-for-3 for the visitors. Hardy and Osama also had two safeties each in the loss.
With four steals on the day, George is now three off the lead in the MASCAC while Ruggiero is one base hit away from equaling the lead in the category (30). Perlak's overall record also moved to 10-3 in today's victory as he became the 23rd pitcher in program history to have double-digit wins over their career.
The Lancers continue their non-conference schedule with a 3 PM road game at Brandies tomorrow. Nichols will play Rhode Island College on Thursday at 3:30 in Providence.
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