NEWPORT, R.I. – The Worcester State University baseball team defeated the No. 17/21 Salve Regina University by a score of 7-6 in non-league action at Brother Reynolds Field Wednesday afternoon.
Salve Regina (22-5), ranked No. 17 in American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) poll and No. 21 in D3Baseball.com poll, had its win streak ended at nine games. Worcester State (12-13) wins for the third straight game, and have won five out of their last six games.
Worcester State's offense was led by third baseman, Colin Medeiros (Fall River, Mass.) who went 3-for-3 from the plate with a game-high three RBI. Ben Palatino (Hudson, Mass.) and Adam Barry (Auburn, Mass.) each picked up two hits, while Palatino collected two RBI.
Lancer starting pitcher Matt Irzyk (Westfield, Mass.) had his longest outing of the season (6.2 innings) and allowed just six hits and three runs (two earned) to pick up his second victory in 2017 (2-2). Senior Tyler Barrie (Oxford, Mass.) made his first relief appearance of the season and earned the save.
The Seahawks had five batters register two hits apiece in the loss, while Colton Eremian (Boca Raton, Fla.) and Hunter Sleeper (Arlington, Mass.) led Salve Regina with two RBI apiece.
Seahawk starting pitcher, Will Crowther (East Sandwich, Mass.) worked into the sixth inning and was charged with his first loss of the season (1-1).
Designated hitter Kevin Larkin (Bristol, Conn.) put the first run on the board with his second home run of the season, a solo blast to left field in the second inning in the top of the 2nd inning. The Lancers added three more runs in the frame for a 4-0 lead.
Salve Regina added single runs in the 3rd and 5th innings. Junior Sam Brito (Lincoln, R.I.) opened the fifth with his second hit, a single up the middle, and later scored on a sac fly from junior John Militano (Miller Place, N.Y.).
Worcester State added two more in the 6th and another in the 7th to reach seven runs. Medeiros accounted for the two RBI in the 6th, while Kenan Kolanda (Sterling, Mass.) hit an RBI double to center in the 7th, plating Barry.
Salve Regina initiated a comeback, as they scored one in the 7th, two in the 8th, and one in the 9th but fell short as Barrie, the team leader in innings pitched, entered the game with two on and two out in the ninth, and a two-run lead (7-5). He walked the first batter he faced on four pitches, got ahead 1-2 on Brito before walking in a run, and the induced a groundout on a 2-2 pitch to Santilli.
Next up, Worcester State hosts Fisher College tomorrow at the Kevin D. Lyons Diamond. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. The Seahawks resume play on Thursday when they travel to Salem State, also for a 3:30 p.m. matchup.
Portions of this Release Courtesy of Salve Regina Sports Information