DARTMOUTH, Mass. – After trailing the entire game, the Worcester State University baseball team rallied back in the top of the 9th inning and scored three runs on four hits and one error to prevail 6-4 over the UMass Dartmouth Corsairs Thursday afternoon.
The Corsairs reached the board first in the bottom of the 2nd inning when they tallied two runs off two hits and one Lancer error. The Lancers cut the lead in half in the top of the 3rd when Adam Barry (Auburn, Mass.) sent Jake Ryan (Northbridge, Mass.) home on an RBI-grounder to second base.
It wasn't until the bottom of the 6th inning that another run crossed the plate. The Corsiars' Erick Ramirez (Boston, Mass.) scored on a sacrifice fly from Nate Tellier (Attleboro, Mass.), and then another run reached on a Worcester State throwing error, advancing the score to 4-1.
Worcester State matched the two runs on the flip side of the inning as the Lancers loaded the bases on a Corsair error, a hit by pitch, and a walk. One run scored on an RBI single from Ben Palatino (Hudson, Mass.), and another one scored on a catcher throwing error, putting the score at 4-3.
The 9th inning excitement started when Kenan Kolanda (Sterling, Mass.) and Ryan had back-to-back hits to put the runners on the corners. Palatino sent Kolanda home to knot the game at 4-4 as he reached on a fielder's choice. A stolen base from Palatino led to a decision to intentional walk for Barry, to set up the force play. Things did not go as planned for the Corsairs as Mike Ferrara (Easton, Mass.) and Seth Leslie (Phillipston, Mass.) hit an RBI-double and an RBI single, respectively, to ring in two more runs for the Blue and Gold to take the lead.
The Lancers sealed the win in the bottom of the 9th when a groundout, a strikeout, and a foul out ended the game in Worcester State's favor, 6-4.
Worcester State's Ryan led the offense as he batted .667 (2-3) with two runs and registered two walks for a .800 on base percentage. Palatino led the Lancers in RBI (2), while Ferrara marked the Lancers' sole double on the afternoon.
UMass Dartmouth' Ramirez was the lone batter to average .500 or above on the afternoon with a double. Tellier and Mike Knell (Dennis, Mass.) registered one RBI apiece on the occasion.
Earning the win on the mound for Worcester State was sophomore Kyle Sullivan (Hudson, Mass.) who pitched the last two innings and held the Corsairs to just two hits in the performance. UMass Dartmouth's Robbie Carrillo (Melrose, Mass.) took the loss as he pitched the last 2.1 innings of the game.
The Lancers (4-7) kick off conference play this Sunday as they travel to Mass. Maritime for a doubleheader, starting at 2 p.m.