WESTFIELD, Mass. – Worcester State University's Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) baseball tournament MVP, Kyle Sullivan (Hudson, Mass.) pitched a complete-game shutout to help lead the No. 4 seeded Lancers to a 1-0 win over No. 6 Framingham State for the MASCAC tournament title Tuesday afternoon.
The Lancers won their first tournament championship since 2014 and sixth all-time MASCAC tournament title. They also earn the MASCAC automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III baseball tournament. The Lancers advance to 19-20 on the season, while Framingham State concludes the season at 20-24.
Sullivan earned his sixth win of the season in the win and allowed seven hits while striking out four at the plate. Framingham State also saw a great performance on the mound from Al Wallach (Nahant, Mass.) who pitched eight innings and allowed one run on five hits.
The game was scoreless until the eighth inning, when Worcester State notched one run on two hits and one Framingham error. Jake Ryan (Northbridge, Mass.) began the inning with a double down the left field line. This led to an intentional walk for Adam Barry (Auburn, Mass.) to put runners on first and second, creating a potential force out at any base. Next up was Mike Ferrara (Easton, Mass.) who reached on a Framingham State fielding error to load the bases. Kevin Larkin (Bristol, Conn.), who went 4-for-5 in yesterday's outing, was at the plate and hit an RBI single to left-center, plating Ryan for what proved to be, the game-winning run. With this accomplishment, Larkin earned MASCAC rookie of the week honors.
In the top of the ninth, Framingham State's leadoff Kyle Pileski (Bristol, Conn.) threatened Worcester State with a single to left center. Pileski's pinch runner, Roy Goodman (Springfield, Mass.) then advanced to second moments later on an Aaron Williams (Brockton, Mass.) sacrifice bunt to put the runner in scoring position with only one out on the board. The Lancers sealed the shutout as Kenan Kolanda (Sterling, Mass.) caught a popup to second, and Ryan closed out the game with a catch in centerfield.
Framingham State's offense was led by Pileski who went 2-for-4 with a double. The Lancers scattered their five hits amongst five different players and saw doubles from Ryan and Seth Leslie (Phillipston, Mass.).
