Worcester, MA- After a grueling finish versus Framingham State on Wednesday, the Lancers Baseball team (15-7, 6-3) aim to bounce back in a nine-inning battle in game one of the series with the Bridgewater Bears (16-8, 7-2). In a series that could ultimately determine the top of the conference, each team is focused on one mission, claiming the series.
Final
Worcester State: 7
Bridgewater State: 10
How it Happened:
In this critical conference matchup, the Lancers would strike first against Bridgewater State, stemming from sophomore Tyler Normandie's (Lowell, MA) single to left field, bringing in first-year Riggs Catlin (Dedham, MA), putting the score to 1-0. Both teams would show defensive prowess in the first few innings due to some great pitching and team chemistry. The Lancers would keep the Bears off the scoreboard until the bottom of the third, where Bridgewater's bats would start to come alive. The Lancers would find themselves down 2-1 heading into the top of the 4th.
At the top of the fourth, senior Anthony Iamarone (Providence, RI) would get on base after being struck in the back by a pitch. First Year Christopher Mondesir (Roslindale, MA) would crush one out of the park to bring home Iamarone and propel the Lancers 3-2 above their conference opponents. At the top of the fifth inning, the Lancers would find another run through senior Tyler Smith's (Leominster, MA) bat, striking one out to right field, also his career 100th, bringing in sophomore Ryan Jewett (Natick, MA). The bottom of the sixth would see the Lancers concede a solo home run, putting the scoreline to 4-3 with a few innings left to play.
The Lancers would run into some trouble at the bottom of the 7th with the bases becoming loaded, giving the Bears a chance to create some late momentum. The Bears would go on a tear, putting up 6 runs in the inning, settling the score at 4-9. The Lancers would load the bases at the top of the 8th, giving them a chance to get back in this game. Worcester would use the moment to tack on 3 runs as Smith would score due to an error by the shortstop, followed up by a Jewett single to left that would send across Mondesir and first-year Jack Savio (Andover, MA). Before the ninth inning, Bridgewater would tack on one more run, giving them a three-score cushion that would hold until the final out as the Bears claimed game one in the series 10-7.
What's Next:
The Lancers (15-8, 6-4) now return to Kevin D. Lyon Diamond tomorrow to complete the series as they welcome Bridgewater State for two, with the first game set for 12pm.