Worcester, MA- After starting the season 1-1 in New England the Worcester State Baseball team began their Spring Break trip today with a double header versus Trinity in a New England battle down south at the Northeast Regional Park. Worcester looked to get their spring break started with success as they embraced the heat in both the air and in the action.
Final
Game 1
Worcester State: 6
Trinity: 0
Game 2
Worcester State: 4
Trinity: 16
How it Happened:
With graduate student Ben Smith (Bourne, MA) on the mound for game one, Worcester would work their way through the first with two quick outs and a ground out on loaded bases to start their Florida action. The excitement would not abate in the bottom of the first as a walk on sophomore Ryan Jewett (Natick, MA) would turn into a runner on third off a pitcher error who was then brought home off a first year Chris Mondesir (Roslindale, MA) RBI. Senior Tyler Smith homer to left field would provide the Lancers the early 2-0 lead into the second. The top of the second would see some small excitement that was quickly resolved with a pick off from Ben Smith to Jewett that grabbed the first of three quick outs for Worcester.
Worcester State would add to their tally in the third as first year Riggs Catlin (Dedham, MA) would single to the shortstop to send in senior Anthony Iamarone (Providence, RI) and sophomore Tyler Normandie (Lowell, MA) who worked their way on base with a walk and a single to extend Worcester's lead to 4-0. Smith and the Lancer defense would continue to control the game and work their way out of some jams to continue to hold their lead and force multiple pitching changes from the Trinity staff.
The bottom of the second would add some additional runs for Worcester as Jeweet was walked onto base with a sacrifice bunt moving him to second by sophomore Kevin Doyle (Bridgewater, MA). Mondesir would pick up another walk followed by an intentional walk to Tyler Smith to load the bases. Iamarone made quick work of the possibilities with a single to left field to bring across two runs for a 6-0 lead. The Bantams would look for some offense in the top of the seventh but Worcester shut any chances down quick for the 6-0 complete game win for Ben Smith.
The defensive side of the game was impressive all game as Worcester State proved to be formidable, executing two pivotal double plays and a key pick-off at second base, which thwarted any chance of a Trinity rally. Starting pitcher B. Smith provided stability on the mound, contributing significantly to the team's shutout victory.
In game two action Trinity would find the offense they had been missing early as they leaped out to a 5-0 lead by the end of the second inning. Worcester would begin to settle in on defense and in the fourth inning find some offense of their own as junior Joe Auger (Lowell, MA) would single deep to center field followed shortly by a Jewett and Doyle walk to load the bases with two outs. Mondesir would step up to the challenge and deliver with a grandslam to put the Lancers right back in fighting position in the game. The Bantams would add another run in the bottom of the fourth to keep a two run lead as the action moved to the back half of the game.
The bottom of the sixth would find Trinity answer with a grand slam of their own to claim the 10-4 lead and would not slow down pushing the lead to 16-4 before the game was ruled complete due to the tournament's 12 run rule.
What's Next:
The Lancers (2-2, 0-0) will be back in action tomorrow morning as they take on St. Lawrence for a seven inning double header St. Patrick's day battle at Northeast Regional Park at 10:30am.