Worcester State 3, UMass Boston 0
Worcester, MA --- Senior right hander Craig McBride (Attleboro, MA) tossed seven shutout innings while sophomore Johno Hinkell (North Adams, MA-C) went 2-for-2 with a pair of runs to help lead Worcester State to a 3-0 victory over UMass Boston this afternoon at WPIs Class of 1893 Field. With the win the Lancers improve their record to 9-9 while the Beacons slip to 4-14.
Through three scoreless innings both teams would leave runners in scoring position in every inning except for UMass Boston in the top of the second. WSC finally broke the tie when they plated a run in the bottom of the fourth.
With one out Hinkell led off the inning with an infield single and then moved to third when sophomore Corey Abbascia (Shrewsbury, MA-LF) reached first on an error in the infield. Junior Ryan LaPrade (Leominster, MA-2B) then drove in Hinkell when he grounded into a fielder’s choice.
From the fourth through the seventh, McBride retired 11 of the last 15 batters he faced, which included stranding runners on first and second in the top sixth. McBride would finish his outing throwing 99 pitches, scattering five hits, walking two and striking out four. He also upped his record to 2-3 on the season.
Worcester State would add a pair of insurance runs over the next two innings. Junior TJ Magnell (Leominster, MA-3B) smacked an RBI double to centerfield in the seventh and Hinkell crossed the plate from third to help the Lancers take advantage of another miscue in the infield in the eighth.
After McBride left the game junior Kevin Hayes (Medford, MA) and senior closer Pat Good (Hull, MA) combined to retire the last six batters in the eighth and ninth while Good notched his second save of the year.
Sophomore southpaw Andy LeBrun (Stoneham, MA) absorbed the loss as he allowed two runs on seven hits over six innings of work. LeBrun also walked four and fanned one batter as he dropped his record to 0-3.
Worcester State left 10 men stranded at the plate which included seven in scoring position while UMB left seven men on base.
Magnell and Hinkell each tallied two hits to pace the Lancers seven hit attack while sophomore Tim Fontane (Worcester, MA-C) was the standout for the visitors as he went 2-for-4 at the plate.
The Lancers will host a key MASCAC doubleheader on Saturday at 12 PM when they will entertain Westfield State on Saturday at Assumption.
UMass-Boston will play three conference games in the next two days on the road. The Beacons travel to Keene State tomorrow for a 3 o’clock contest and then to UMass-Dartmouth for a twinbill on Saturday starting at noon.