Worcester State 9, Fitchburg State 3
Worcester, MA --- Junior Nick Caparell (N.
Attleboro, MA-RF) went 3-for-4 with a homer, three runs batted in
and two runs scored as second-seeded Worcester State defeated #6
Fitchburg State 9-3 at WPI’s Class of 1893 field in the
semifinal round of the ECAC New England Baseball Tournament. The
Lancers advance to play the top-seeded Engineers for the
championship at 4 PM.
The Falcons opened the game in the top of the first when senior
Kris Breen (Griswold, CT-1B) drove in classmate Andy Sauer
(Willington, CT-LF), who reached first on a single with two
outs.
Worcester State responded and tied the score up 1-1 in the bottom
of the second when senior Ryan LaPrade
(Leominster, MA-SS) hit a run producing single that allowed
sophomore Johno Hinkell (North Adams, MA-C) to
score from third.
The Lancers then took control of the game as their offense scored
five times in the bottom of the third. Corey
Abbascia (Shrewsbury, MA-CF) and Caparell hit back-to-back
RBI singles before sophomore Nick Fluegge (Ware,
MA-1B) went yard for his 13th homer of the season with a two-run
blast. Sophomore Johno Hinkell (North Adams, MA-C)
capped off the inning as he hit a solo homer to put WSC up 6-1.
Caparell and Coakley helped the Blue and Gold open the game up as
they each launched homers to center field to help Worcester State
go up 9-1 after seven frames.
Junior Mike Borowiec (Spencer, MA-RHP) went the
first seven innings allowing one run before he ran into trouble in
the eighth inning. Borowiec set down 17 of the 23 batters he faced
after the opening frame.
With no outs, sophomore Brian Ware (Beverly, MA-3B) led off the
top of the eighth with a single before Sauer belted a two-run homer
to make the score 9-3.
Fitchburg State then started to threaten and score more with
runners at the corners and no one out before Borowiec was lifted
with freshman Kyle St. Thomas (Bridgewater,
MA-RHP). St. Thomas promptly ended the inning with a fly-out and a
double-play to end the threat and help the Lancers cruise ahead for
the victory.
Borowiec (6-1) worked seven innings while allowing three runs and
scattering eight hits to earn the victory. Borowiec also fanned
five and hit three batters.
FSC junior Nick Ryan (Lowell, MA-RHP) and senior Jake Barbarotta
(Pittsfield, MA-LHP) combined for seven innings as Ryan (2-1) went
the games first three frames. They combined to yield nine runs
(eight earned) on 13 hits while they walked two and struck out
four.
Hinkell, Abbascia, Fluegge and senior Matt Hart
(N. Easton, MA-2B) each notched a pair of hits for the Lancers who
finished with 13 hits. Abbasica also crossed the plate twice while
Fluegge drove in a pair. Sauer and Breen also tallied two hits for
the Falcons.
Fitchburg State ends their 2009 campaign at 19-18 while the
Lancers post the second 30-win season in their programs history as
they are now 30-14.