Worcester State 12, Mass Maritime 0
Worcester State 6, Mass Maritime 4
Game 1 --- Box Score
Game 2 --- Box Score
Worcester, MA --- Behind a stellar pitching performance by junior right hander Joey Lucier (Brockton, MA) in a 12-0 afternoon win along with a 6-4 come from behind victory in the nightcap, the Worcester State baseball team swept visiting Mass Maritime Academy this afternoon to open up MASCAC play. With the triumph in game one, head coach Dr. Dirk Baker also earned his 300th career victory.
In the first game, Lucier (1-2) tossed six strong innings allowing just two hits while he fanned four and walked just one batter. After he stranded a runner on second to end the first inning, Lucier set down 14 of the last 18 batters he faced. Lucier allowed just one more to reach scoring position the rest of the time he was on the mound.
After a scoreless first, the Lancers (7-7, 2-0 MASCAC) got on the board scoring three runs over the next two innings. With two men out in the second, freshman Jake Sanderski (Millbury, MA-DH) doubled and then came home on an RBI single by senior Ryan LaPrade (Leominster, MA-2B). In the third, senior Matt Hart (N. Easton, MA-CF) scored on a throwing error in the infield and junior Nick Fluegge (Ware, MA) notched a sacrifice fly to give the Blue and Gold the 3-0 lead.
Worcester State then broke the game open as they combined for nine runs over the final two innings highlighted by a two-run homer by junior Nick Caparell (N. Attleboro, MA-RF) in the fifth and a two-run single by classmate TJ Magnell (Leominster, MA-3B) in the sixth.
In the seventh, Mass Maritime (5-6, 0-2 MASCAC) threatened with bases loaded to break the shutout, but reliever senior Andy Cunningham (Leicester, MA) got out of the jam to keep the Buccaneers off the board.
MMA junior righthander Matthew O'Brien's (Swampscott, MA) record falls to 1-2 with the loss as he went the first four innings allowing just three runs. The visiting bullpen allowed nine runs on seven hits while they also yielded five walks.
The Lancers 12 hit attack was paced by LaPrade who went 3-for-3 with three plated runs while Magnell went 2-for-4 with three runs scored. Sanderski crossed the plate twice as he also went 2-for-3 and an RBI.
In the second game, senior Andrew Spofford (Sharon Springs, NY-LF) put the Mass Maritime up 1-0 in the top of the second after he crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
The Lancers promptly tied up the score 1-1 when LaPrade came around to score on an errant throw by the catcher after he stole third.
In the top of the fourth the Buccaneers made the score 2-1 when sophomore Michael Vargas (Natick, MA) doubled in Spofford, who reached on an error in the infield. Vargas would then reach third on a sacrifice bunt, but junior starter Mike Borowiec (Spencer, MA) would retire the next two to get out of the jam.
After a scoreless fourth, the Lancers put up a crooked number with five runs in the bottom of the fifth. Caparell doubled in Hart, who reached on a lead-off single, and then Caparell came around to score on a run producing single by Fluegge. After sophomore Johno Hinkell (North Adams, MA-C) doubled down the line to put himself and Fluegge in scoring position, LaPrade hit a two-run single to make the score 5-2.
LaPrade then tacked on another run when he crossed the plate on an RBI single by sophomore Corey Abbascia (Shrewsbury, MA-LF).
The Buccaneers then made the score 6-4 as they touched Borowiec for a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. Spofford doubled to lead off the frame and then scored on a plated run by sophomore Corey Murphy (E. Wareham, MA-1B). Murphy later came home on an RBI double by freshman Nick Montalto (S. Yarmouth, MA-CF).
With two outs and a runner in scoring position, Baker brought in junior reliever Kevin Hayes (Medford, MA) who promptly struck out the batter at the plate to end the threat. In the seventh, Hayes allowed a lead-off single to senior Mark Mozelak (New Hartford, CT-SS), but he would end the game retiring the last three hitters to earn his first career save.
Borowiec's record goes to 1-1 with the win as he allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits after he threw 5 2/3 innings. Borowiec also fanned four while he walked one.
Junior southpaw David Hike (Riverview, FL) took the loss for MMA after he went five innings yielded all six runs (five earned) on 11 hits. Hike recorded five struck out five and he walked just one.
Magnell, Fluegge and Caparell each notched two hits for the Lancers while Spofford, Montalto and Mozelak each tallied a pair of base-hits to lead the Buccaneers.
Worcester State will travel to Endicott on Tuesday for a 3:30 game while Mass Maritime will entertain Newbury College in a doubleheader beginning at noon.