Worcester State 7, Westfield State 5
Worcester State 9, Westfield State 2
Game 1 --- Box Score
Game 2 --- Box Score
Westfield, MA --- Senior Ryan LaPrade (Leominster, MA) drove in five runs, including a grandslam home run, and junior Nick Fluegge (Ware, MA) homered and drove in four runs to lead Worcester State to a 7-5, 9-2 doubleheader sweep over Westfield State in MASCAC baseball action on Saturday, April 10.
Worcester improves to 16-5-1 overall and 3-1 in the MASCAC. Westfield is 15-6 and 2-2 in the conference.
In the opener, Worcester took early 5-0 and 7-2 leads and held on for the victory. The Lancers scored three runs in the first inning on two walks and three hits, including RBI doubles by Fluegge and T.J. Magnell (Leominster, MA).
The Lancers scored twice in the second on three hits, including an RBI double by junior Corey McDonald (Hudson, MA) and an RBI single from Fluegge.
Westfield dented the scoreboard in the bottom of the second when catcher junior Pete Hogan (Weymouth, MA) lined a home run over the left field fence.
The Lancers scored their final two runs in the third inning. Relief pitcher freshman Bret Siflinger (Framingham, MA) walked the first three batters, then a run scored when third-year Corey Abbascia (Shrewsbury, MA) hit into a double play. Laprade followed with an RBI double.
Senior Kevin Lyons (Braintree, MA) had an RBI single for the Owls in the third and smashed a solo homer in the last inning. Westfield scored twice in the fourth on a sacrifice fly and a passed ball.
Worcester out-hit Westfield, 9-8, and the Lancers drew seven walks. McDonald was 3 for 3 with two doubles and two runs scored and Fluegge was 2 for 3 with two RBI and a double.
Lyons was 3 for 4 with two RBI and Matt Kelly was 2 for 3.
Senior ace Joey Lucier (Brockton, MA) went the distance as he improved to a 4-1 on the season. He allowed three walks while he struck out three.
Westfield took a 1-0 first-inning lead in the second game on fourh-year Ben Campbell’s (Easthampton, MA) sacrifice fly, but LaPrade delivered his big blow in the top of the second. With the bases empty and two outs, the Lancers loaded the sacks with a single, double and a walk. LaPrade then lined his grand slam homer over the left field fence.
Worcester took a 5-1 third-inning lead when Fluegge doubled and scored on a two-base throwing error.
Hogan delivered an RBI single to make it 5-2 after four innings, but the Lancers went long ball again when Fluegge crushed a two-run homer in the fifth and junior Johno Hinkell (North Adams, MA) lined a solo circuit shot in the seventh.
Worcester out-hit Westfield in the nightcap, 12-5, and all nine players hit safely for the Lancers. LaPrade was 2 for 4 with two runs scored and Fluegge was 2 for 4 with a homer, double, two runs scored and two RBI.
Freshman outfielder Josh Blair (Westfield, MA) was 2 for 3 with a double for the Owls.
Senior Mike Borowiec (Spencer, MA) hurled all seven innings for the pitching victory as he fanned a season-best ten batters and walked four. Borowiec is now 2-1 on the season. The only other time Borowiec has fanned more batters is in 2007 when he punched out 12 in a seven-inning triumph over Elms.
The Lancers will play again on Tuesday when they host Brandies in a 3:30 game at Tivinan Field (Lake Park) while the Owls head to WPI for a non-conference battle on Wednesday at the same time.
Major Portions of Release Courtesy of Westfield State Sports Information