Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Baseball team (5-13, 4-2) was finally able to return to the field Sunday afternoon after another late week storm passed through and caused another shift in the schedule. Worcester would travel to Framingham State (4-1, 2-2) for a double header that was initially scheduled at home but was moved and pushed back a day for the Rams to host the double header as Worcester again would play away as the home team.

Final- Game 1

Framingham State: 7

Worcester State: 1

Final- Game 2

Framingham State: 9

Worcester State: 6

How it Happened:

Senior Ben Smith (Bourne, MA) would take the lead on the mound for Worcester State in game one, shutting out Framingham until the fifth inning. The Lancers would be the first on the board in the first after sophomore Nathan Thurber, the Framigham native, would line out to shortstop, but an error on the play would allow junior Tyler Smith (Leominster, MA) time to travel from third across home plate. It would remain a tight game until  the Rams tied the game up in the top of the fifth after a Cam Gilroy (Salisbury, MA) triple would lead him home off a Lucas Basile (Upton, MA) grounded out to first, but with enough time for Gilroy to add a run. Framingham would grab the lead in the sixth off a single by Robert Johnston (Watertown, CT) who was carried home off a Danny Robichaud (Dracut, MA) double. 

The top of the seventh would see Framingham jump out to a six run lead that the Lancers would be unable to overcome in the bottom of the inning in their bid to grab win number one on the day.

Ben Smith would go six innings with nine strikeouts in the outing.

Junior Mike Bean (Tampa, FL) would get the tab for game two of the day and let up two early as the Rams grabbed the early game lead two off a Johnston double. Worcester aimed to return the favor of game one and claim the victory for game two. 

Worcester would find themselves in a tight bind in the top of the second as the Rams loaded the bases with two outs but solid defensive play from first year Ryan Jewett (Natick, MA) to senior Frankie Hernandez, another Framingham native, would guide Worcester out of the danger.

The Rams would grab additional runs in the third inning off early errors to start the top inning action. Framingham would close out the action carrying a 6-0 lead. 

First year Dylan White (Rutland, MA) would take over the pitching duties for Bean in the fourth as the Lancers attempted to regain the momentum on the diamond. The Rams would snag one run in the inning before Worcester answered back in the bottom with a junior Anthony Iamarone (Providence, RI) homer. An error would send an eight run in for Framingham as they carried an 8-1 lead into the middle of the fifth.

Worcester would be shut out in the fifth, while the Rams would record another run in the sixth to extend the lead to 9-1. A Junior Tom Halliwell (Leominster, MA) single would start a surge for the Lancers in the 6th as he would send home first year Jeremy DeLacruz (Lowell, MA) for run number two. A passed ball on the Rams would allow sophomore Gavin Well (North Attleboro, MA) to make it a 9-3 game into the seventh.

White would seal out the Rams in the seventh allowing Worcester a chance to mount the bottom inning comeback win. Two walks to start the first would be just the grounding Jewett would need to send a bouncing ball to the pitcher for a single that would allow Thurber to score run number four for the Lancers and still leave two runners on. A Delacruz hit by a pitch would quickly see the bases loaded with all three outs still in play. After the Ram managed to grab their first out, Tyler Smith would be walked to force the fifth run across home, cutting the lead down to four. Halliwell would send up a sac fly in the next at bat for run number six as Worcester knocked on the door of the bottom inning comeback, but a pop fly would end the Lancers endeavor, dropping game two 9-6.

Bean and White would combine for four strikeouts.

What's Next:

Worcester State (5-15, 4-4) will be quick to return to action as they travel to Fitchburg State for a Patriot's Day showdown in a single game battle at 2pm.