AUBURNDALE, Fla. - The Worcester State University baseball team won its fourth consecutive contest on Thursday afternoon, defeating Lesley University 12-3 at the Lake Myrtle Sports Park.
With the win, the Lancers jump to 4-2 on the season, while Lesley drops to 1-4.
Lesley got on the board in the top of the first inning for the game's first run on a sacrifice fly from senior Ryan Pumphret, but the lead would be short lived. Worcester State responded with three in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by a two-run double down the left field line from senior Michael Ferrara (Easton, Mass.), to take a 3-1 lead to the second.
Lesley scored one in the top of the second, but Worcester State again had an answer, coming back with five in the bottom of the second to take an 8-2 edge. In nearly identical fashion, the big blow of the inning came on a two-run double down the line in left, this time off the bat of senior Ben Palatino (Hudson, Mass.).
After the Lynx made it 8-3 in the top of the third, the pitchers settled in for a few innings before Worcester State scored a pair in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore Pat Galvin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) drew a bases loaded walk for the inning's first run, before Kenan Kolanda (Sterling, Mass.) scored Palatino from third on a sacrifice fly to centerfield.
A pair of unearned runs in the runs in the bottom of the sixth pushed Worcester State's lead to 12-3, which would hold as the game's final score.
Palatino, senior Seth Leslie (Phillipston, Mass.), and sophomore Jacob Breton (Wilbraham, Mass.) all recorded three hits to lead Worcester State's offense in the victory.
Junior PJ Walsh (Bridgewater, Mass.) got the win for Worcester State on the hill, throwing six innings, allowing three earned on six hits while striking out six. Sophomores Parker Bigelow (Leominster, Mass.), Issiac Christiansen (Franklin, Maine), and Chris Elliott (Plymouth, Mass.) each threw shutout innings in relief.
Worcester State will return to action on Friday to take on Husson in non-conference action from Florida.
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