WPI 6, Worcester State 3
Worcester, MA --- WPI tallied two runs in each of the first two innings to back starter Nolan Murphy (Shrewsbury, MA), who pitched 6 2/3 strong innings to lead the Engineers to a 6-3 home victory over cross-town rival Worcester State in non-conference baseball action on Thursday afternoon. Thomas Whiting (Farmington Hills, MI) closed out the game with 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. The win gives the Engineers their seventh win in the last eight games, boosting their record to 10-6. The Lancers drop to 6-8 on the year.
WPI scored first for the third game in a row, taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Bryan Watkins (Belmont, MA) led off the inning with a walk and was immediately sent home with the Engineers' first run on an RBI triple by Paul Galligan (Weymouth, MA). Designated hitter Mike Swanton (Foxboro, MA) followed with an RBI groundout to plate Galligan, staking Murphy to a 2-0 edge.
The Crimson and Gray would tack on two more in the second, sparked by a rarely-seen play. Mark Dignum (Albany, NY) struck out looking to lead off the frame, but was able to reach base on a passed ball. Dignum would then steal second and would come around to score on a Cody McGregor (Westfield, MA) double to center to give WPI a 3-0 advantage. Following the second passed ball of the inning, McGregor would score on an infield single off the bat of Galligan, the shortstop's second RBI in as many innings.
Worcester State got to Murphy in the fourth, as leadoff hitter Nick Caparell (North Attleboro, MA) reached on an error, paving the way for sophomore Nick Fluegge (Ware, MA) who powered a home run over the fence in left-center, pulling the Lancers back to within two runs at 4-2.
The Engineers would add a fifth run in the fourth inning, scoring without the benefit of a hit. Nick Bean (Middleboro, MA) led off with a walk, advanced to second on a groundout and moved on to third on a wild pitch. McGregor walked and Joe Walsh (Weymouth, MA) reached on another rare play, catcher's interference, to load the bases. Watkins followed Walsh with the third walk of the inning, sending Bean home to give WPI a 5-2 lead.
The score remained 5-2 until the last half of the sixth, when WPI added a run to extend the lead. Walsh reached on a triple into the right-center field gap before scoring on a RBI bunt single from Watkins that gave Murphy back his four-run cushion.
The Lancers pieced together a two-out rally in the seventh as they attempted to come back. Corey Abbascia (Shrewsbury, MA) laced a double to center and scored Worcester State's third run of the game on an RBI-single to center from Ryan Raleigh (Cranston, RI) that finally chased Murphy from the game.
Whiting came on to relieve Murphy, recording the last out of the seventh. The junior sent down the first six Lancer batters that he faced before allowing a two-out single to Raleigh in the ninth. Whiting induced a ground-ball out after Raleigh's base-hit, sealing the win for the Engineers and in the process earning his first save of the season and fifth of his career.
Murphy (3-0) remained unbeaten on the season, picking up his third win while striking out seven. Craig McBride (Attleboro, MA) was saddled with the loss but pitched well for Worcester State, allowing only three earned runs on six hits while also striking out seven. McBride falls to 1-3 on the year. The Lancers also received a strong relief appearance from Kyle St. Thomas (Bridgewater, MA), who hurled 2 2/3 innings of scoreless work.
Galligan and Ryan Brown (Worcester, MA) each collected a pair of hits on the day for WPI, while Raleigh notched a pair of hits for the Lancers.
WPI continues its three-game home stand on Friday, taking on Nichols at the Class of 1893 Field at 3:30pm before heading out on the road to take on Babson in a NEWMAC doubleheader on Saturday. Worcester State will also play a doubleheader on Saturday, when they will face Mass-Maritime at 12:00pm at a site to be determined.
Release Courtesy of WPI Sports Information