Lakeland, FL --- Worcester State won their opening game of the season, 3-1, behind a strong pitching performance by senior Chad Kasik (Dudley, MA) before the Lancers lost the second game to Husson, 10-5. Fourth-year Nick Fluegge (Ware, MA) also finished five-for-seven with a trio of doubles and two RBIs.
Kasik scattered five hits, allowed no runs, walked no one and fanned six in his debut. He retired six of the first seven that he faced while he also stranded a pair in scoring position.
The contest was scoreless until the third when the Lancers (1-1) tallied a pair of unearned runs.
Sophomore Nick Gezotis (Westfield, MA) started the inning with a double and then moved to third on a passed ball. With one out Kyle Wilson (Norwich, CT) struck out swinging, but he would reach first on another passed ball as Gezotis would score from third on the play. Fluegge then drove in Wilson with two outs for the 2-0 advantage.
The Blue and Gold tacked on one more run in the fourth when junior Tyler McElman (Marlboro, MA) doubled in senior Johno Hinkell (North Adams, MA), who reached on a two-bagger of his own.
The Lancer bullpen preserved the lead in the sixth and seventh as junior Phil Recco (Concord, MA) and second-year Shaun Slattery (Gardner, MA) both took the hill.
After Recco allowed the first two batters to reach he would retire three straight for the hold in his first appearance this season. In the seventh, Slattery would let an unearned run cross the plate on a dropped fly ball in the infield before he notched his first career save with a strikeout to end the contest, with runners on the corners.
Hinkell was the only multi-hitter with two base-hits as Husson was paced by senior Ethan Guerette's (Sabattus, ME) two singles. Freshman Cody McInnis (Bangor, ME) scored the lone run for the Eagles.
Despite the fact that Husson led WSU 8-6 in hits, the pitching staff of the Blue and Gold did not yield an extra base.
With the second game knotted 2-2 in the top of the third, the Eagles plated four runs for the 6-2 edge as they were highlighted with a big two-run double by freshman Josh Gaudette (Waterville, ME) and RBI singles from sophomore classmates Shawn Smith (Winterport, ME) and Jake Arthers (Belfast, ME).
Worcester State then responded with a three-run bottom of the inning to threaten.
With Husson up 6-5, the Eagles notched a pair of runs in the fourth and sixth innings for a commanding 10-5 advantage.
The Lancers had chances over the final four frames to get back into the contest, but they left seven on base and six in scoring position.
WSU opened the game with the 1-0 lead on a senior Corey McDonald (Hudson, MA) sac-fly. Husson answered with two runs in the top of the second on back-to-back doubles by senior Chris Maguire (Orland, ME) and Josh Guadette.
The Blue and Gold equalized the score 2-2 on an RBI single by senior Corey Abbascia (Shrewsbury, MA).
Second-year Mark Dvilinsky (Westbrook, ME) earned his first win of the season for the Eagles as he spread out 10 hits on five earned runs while he ended with three walks, four strikeouts in five innings of work.
Freshman Pat McEwen (Bangor, ME) finished the contest off with two scoreless stanzas as he allowed three hits and struck out a trio of batters.
Arthers led Husson with three hits as Smith and Josh Gaudette ended the afternoon with two apiece. All three accounted for seven of the squads eight runs batted in.
Fluegge was four-for-four in the second game while McDonald was three-for-three. McElman chipped in with two hits while the trio each had an RBI.
WSU led in hits, 13-11, in the second contest. There was just one error and one double-play in the books for the double-header.
Worcester State will take on Amherst in a twinbill on Sunday at Florida Southern starting at 1:30 while the Eagles (4-3) will play Endicott tomorrow in their second-straight doubleheader starting at 3:30.