Worcester State 6, Roger Williams 3

Worcester State 5, Roger Williams 2

Game 1 --- Box Score

Game 2 --- Box Score

Winter Haven, FL --- Behind two solid pitching performances of sophomore Phil Recco (Concord, MA) and freshman Shaun Slattery (Gardner, MA), Worcester State swept Roger Williams in a twinbill by scores of 6-3 and 5-2 this afternoon. With the victory the Lancers improve to 4-3-1 while the Hawks slip to 1-5.

In the opening game, Recco (1-0) hurled five innings as he allowed three runs off of five hits to go along with four strikeouts and a pair of walks in his first start of the season.

Roger Williams jumped on the board in the bottom of the first when junior Zach Porter (Middleboro, MA) belted a two-run triple and Roche knocked in Porter with a sacrifice fly for a quick 3-0 advantage.

It was after that Recco along with senior relievers Joey Lucier (Brockton, MA) and Kevin Hayes (Medford, MA) combined to shut the Hawks down. Together they yielded just five hits while they also stranded four in scoring position. Hayes also earned his first save of the 2010 campaign in the victory with a scoreless seventh.

Roger Williams held their lead for the next three innings until the Lancers scored four runs in the middle frames. In the third, Worcester State notched a pair of runs on a sacrifice fly by fourth-year Ryan LaPrade (Leominster, MA) and an RBI single by classmate TJ Magnell (Leominster, MA).

WSC took the 4-3 edge for good when they scored two runs in the top of the fourth. Senior Nick Caparell (Attleboro, MA) doubled in junior Corey McDonald (Hudson, MA), who reached by being plunked, before Caparell scored from third on a wild pitch.

The Lancers built on their lead with some insurance in the fifth on a run producing single by Magnell.

Hawks junior Sam Podbelski (East Greenwich, RI) was tagged with his first setback of the year as he pitched 3 2/3 innings allowing four runs (three earned) on a trio of hits. He recorded two strikeouts, but hit three batters and walked no one.

Freshman Tony Trafacanty (Franklin, MA) also pitched three innings for Roger Williams as he gave up just one run in the seventh on an RBI double by McDonald.

Magnell was the only Lancer with multi hits as he went 3-for-4 with a run and two runs batted in. Porter along with junior Stephen McKernan (Grafton, MA) and freshman John Oppenhimer (Westport, CT) all contributed two hits apiece.

In the second contest, Slattery earned his first career victory in his debut on the mound. In six innings of work Slattery gave up two runs (one earned) while scattering six hits while he fanned four and issued a pair of free passes.

Roger Williams went up 1-0 in the top of the first as they took advantage of an error in the outfield. With runners on first and second and two outs, Trafacany singled to center, but the ball was misplayed allowing Porter to come home on the miscue. The Hawks looked poised to score more runs with two men in scoring position, but Slattery ended the inning with a strikeout.

In the bottom of the frame, the Lancers would answer and take the 3-1 lead after one inning of play. WSC knotted the score on an RBI single by junior Nick Fluegge (Ware, MA) and the take the advantage on a two-run double from classmate Johno Hinkell (North Adams, MA).

After two scoreless innings, Roger Williams inched closer as they made the score 3-2 when sophomore Tim Georgen (Bristol, CT) drove in classmate Trevor Manzi (Beverly, MA) with two outs and the bases loaded.

But Worcester State would respond again as they strung together three consecutive base hits to take a 5-3 lead after four innings capped off by a two-run single by Magnell.

Slattery would then pitch a pair of perfect innings to set up senior Mike Borowiec (Webster, MA) who earned his first career save in his four year WSC career for a scoreless seventh.

First-year Josh Orosz (Fairfield, CT) shouldered the loss for Roger Williams as he went the distance. Orosz (0-1) yielded five runs off of nine hits while he fanned two and walked three.

LaPrade, Sanderski and Fluegge all notched two hits apiece as LaPrade crossed the plate twice for the Blue and Gold.The Hawks managed seven hits off of WSC starting pitching in the second contest as no batter had a multi-hit game.

LaPrade also added the 100th base-hit of his career with a single in the fourth.

The Lancers will close out their Florida trip with a pair of nine inning games against Hamilton at 12 and Ramapo at 4:30 on Saturday.