NORTHBORO, Mass. – The Worcester State University baseball team dropped two close games to the Bobcats of Bates College by scores of 3-2 (12 innings) and 4-3 Saturday afternoon at the New England Baseball Complex (NEBC).
THE BASICS
March 10, 2018
New England Baseball Complex
Records: Bates (6-2) | Worcester State (0-5)
GAME ONE: Bates 3, Worcester State 2 (12 inn.)
The Bobcats won the first game of the twinbill in a 12-inning thriller when Zach Avila (San Francisco, Calif.) hit an RBI single to plate Pat Beaton (West Newbury, Mass.), who had reached base on a triple to right center, to begin the final inning.
Worcester State was the first team to reach the board in the bottom of the first when Kenan Kolanda (Sterling, Mass.) hit his first home run of the season over the left field fence for the 1-0 Lancer gain. The Lancers would not record another hit until the bottom of the 6th inning.
Worcester State's starting pitcher, Luke Brennan (Worcester, Mass.) had a no-hitter going into the 4th inning until Dan Truilli (Melrose, Mass.) recorded Bates' first hit with a single up the middle. The inning concluded with a failed steal attempt and a popup to the pitcher.
Bates did not break through until the top of the 7th inning when Beaton hit home Kyle Carter (Plantation, Fla.) for a 1-1 tie game. However, Worcester State took back the lead in the flip side of the inning when Kevin Larkin (Rocky Hill, Conn.) was hit home on an RBI from Sam Allen (Springfield, Mass.).
On Bates' next at-bat, the Bobcats knotted the score at 2-2 on a Truilli RBI single to centerfield.
Great pitching and defense held the score at a tie until the top of the 12th when Avila recorded the game-winning RBI. Worcester State's lone base runner in the inning was caught stealing, and then next two batters were struck out by Jake Shapiro (Sandy, Utah) for Bates' 3-2 extra inning win.
- Avila not only sent home the game-winning RBI in the 12th inning, but he also batted a perfect 2-for-2 with a run and a walk in game one.
- Truilli and Beaton also registered two hits for the Bobcats.
- Worcester State's offense was led by Larkin who recorded two doubles.
- Kolanda and Allen accounted for the Lancers' two RBI.
- Bates' pitching staff allowed two runs on six hits. Starting pitcher, Connor Russell (Cumberland, Maine) pitched five innings and allowed three hits and struck out three Lancer batters. Shapiro earned the win in a 2 2/3 inning performance, allowing no runs on no hits and striking out five batters.
- The Lancers' starting pitcher, Brennan, registered nine strikeouts in the first six innings pitched. He also did not allow any runs on just three hits.
- Worcester State's closer, Josh Boucher (Auburn, Mass.), suffered the loss on the mound in one inning pitched.
GAME TWO: Bates 4, Worcester State 3
In another close game, Bates came from behind, knotted the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the 5th inning on one hit and two Lancer errors, and then Truilli hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the 7th inning for the 4-3 edge over Worcester State.
Worcester State began the game with a quick two runs on a 2-RBI double from Pat Burke (Reading, Mass.) in the 1st.
The Lancers added to the scoreboard in the top of the 5th inning with an RBI double from Mike Ferrara (Easton, Mass.).
Bates rallied back in the reverse side of the inning. Two runners reached base on fielding errors, then Will Sylvia (Newton, Mass.) walked to load the bases. Avila was on deck and came up and singled to right field to plate Connor DiVincenzo (Westwood, Mass.) and Beaton. Sylvia tied the score at 3-3 on a wild pitch.
The Bobcats won the game in the bottom of the 7th. They slowly loaded the bases on an error, fielder's choice, and an intentional walk. The next batter popped up for the first out, however, Truilli came through with the game-winning RBI on a shallow hit to right field, plating Jon Lindgren (Plainville, Conn.) for the win.
- Worcester State's Ferrara led all batters with two hits (one double) and a RBI.
- Burke also hit a double and logged a game-high two RBI.
- Kolanda and Cooper Bigelow (Leominster, Mass.) each had two sacrifice bunts in the setback.
- The Bobcats were held to just three hits by Worcester State's pitching staff, as they came from Avila, Truilli, and Carter.
- Bates' Justin Foley (Lynnfield, Mass.) earned the win on the mound, as he allowed no runs on one hit and struck out three batters.
- Worcester State's Ryan Belinskas (Worcester, Mass.) was tabbed the loss in 1 1/3 innings pitched. Kyle Sullivan (Hudson, Mass.) was the Lancer starter and struck out five in five innings pitched.
UP NEXT
The Worcester State baseball team returns to play on Tuesday (Mar. 13) when they matchup against WPI in Northboro at 3:30 p.m. Bates travels to MIT next Saturday (Mar. 17) for a doubleheader, starting at 12 noon.
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