Worcester, MA --- Sophomore Adam Barry (Auburn, MA/Holy Name) went 4-for-4 with two runs while senior David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA) rapped out three singles in three at-bats as they both paced Worcester State to a 6-3 victory over MIT in non-conference baseball action at the Kevin Lyons Baseball Diamond.
With the victory, the Lancers improve to 16-11 while the Engineers fall to 14-8 on the campaign in the loss.
Worcester State got on the board with the early 2-0 advantage over the first three frames of play.
Barry crossed home plate following a miscue at second base in the bottom of the first and in the third, Ruggiero plated classmate Zach George (Attleboro, MA), who led off the frame with a single to left before swiping second.
MIT erased the deficit when freshman Austin Filiere (Chandler, AZ) drilled a two-run single to the gap in right center to tie up the score 2-2 in the top of the seventh.
With runners on first and second, sophomore Tyler Barrie (Oxford, MA) was inserted into the game for the Lancers to quell the threat and he set down the final two batters to get out of the inning unscathed.
In the bottom half of the next stanza, the Blue and Gold took the 6-2 lead for good, putting up four runs in the inning.
After sophomore Mike Powers (Weymouth, MA) drove in George for his second tally of the game, classmate Brian Bonacquisti (Pittsfield, MA) lofted a fly ball to the right fielder, but he misplayed the ball and allowed three scores to come home on the play.
The Engineers touched Barrie up for one more run over his final two frames of work, with a score in the top of the eighth on a two-run double by junior Alec Echevaria (Chula Vista, CA).
Barrie earned the victory to improve his record to 2-2 as he fanned three over 2 2/3 innings of work.
Sophomore Zach Zona (Auburn, MA/St. Peter-Marian) had a no-decision in his fourth start of the campaign for WSU. Zona gave up two earned runs on five hits to go with six walks and eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 frames.
Freshman Tim Zhong (Reston, VA) shouldered the loss in relief for permitting the go-ahead run to cross home in the top of the seventh. First-year teammate Zach Michaud (Moorestown, NJ) was effective, going six full innings, allowing two runs (one earned) while scattering seven hits. Michaud did not walk one batter and he recorded two punch outs.
Filiere was the lone multi-hitter for the MIT as he went 2-for-4. WSU edged their opponents in the hitting department, 8-6.
Worcester State will play again on Saturday in a double-header against Framingham State on the road with a first-pitch slated for 1 PM.
Today's matchup was a warm-up series for their key meeting this weekend against Wheaton. They take on the Lyons in Norton on Friday at 3:30.
You can follow the Worcester State Lancers on Facebook, Twitter and by subscribing to our news updates