Auburndale, FL --- Worcester State defeated Roger Williams 10-4 and 5-3 in non-conference baseball action on Thursday evening. Junior Kyle Wilson (Norwich, CT) and senior Paul Rodriguez (San Antonio, TX) both went 3-for-4 in the first game triumph, the Lancers erased a three-run deficit to post the victory in the nightcap.
In the opening contest, the Blue and Gold (5-3) pounded out 12 hits – eight for extra bases – as they were also paced by sophomore Adam Metzger (Northampton, MA) who went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Senior Corey McDonald (Hudson, MA) made three trips to home plate.
Worcester State drew first blood in the top of the first inning. Wilson led off the game with a double, moved to second on a bunt before McDonald was plunked to put runners on first and second. After senior Nick Fluegge (Ware, MA) lined into to the shortstop, McDonald was very nearly doubled off first, but the throw sailed wide and scored Wilson. Rodriguez then ended a six-game hitless streak with a two-out RBI single for the 2-0 advantage.
The Hawks (3-5) promptly responded with two in the bottom of the first as they took advantage of a pair of miscues. Freshman Mike Pascarella (Milford, CT) scored on a wild throw from the catcher after he stole second and then sophomore Tony Trafecanty (Franklin, MA) drove in junior Tim Georgen (Bristol, CT), who reached on an error in the infield.
Pitching with the game tied 2-2, senior Chad Kasik (Dudley, MA) shut down the Roger Williams offense as he allowed just four hits over the next five innings and he did not let a runner get past second base.
The Lancers used Kasik's effort on the mound to explode for eight runs over the final five innings of the contest. Wilson, Rodriguez and Metzger all highlighted the scoring as they would each notch RBIs in the barrage. Rodriguez also jacked a triple to lead off the top of the fifth – the first three-bagger for WSU this season.
Roger Williams would plate for three runs in the bottom of the seventh with one out, but junior Joseph Piscitelli (Oxford, MA) would induce a double-play with the bases juiced to end the contest.
Kasik improved his record to 2-0 as he allowed two runs on five hits to go along with two walks, one strikeout and one hit batter.
Senior PJ Gouthro (Walpole, MA) absorbed the setback for the Hawks. Gouthro (0-2) gave up 10 hits, seven runs (five earned) while he finished with one walk and one punch-out in four 2/3 innings of work. Gouthro's control was inconsistent throughout the duration of the contest as he plunked three batters and tossed a pair of wild pitches.
Senior Zach Porter (Middleboro, MA) was the lone mult-hitter for Roger Williams with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate as sophomore Jon Palmer (Old Saybrook, CT) jacked out his first career home run with a solo blast in the seventh inning.
In game two, the Hawks built up a 3-0 advantage with single runs over the first four innings of the contest.
Porter crossed home plate on an error in the infield in the second inning, junior Trevor Manzi (Beverly, MA) recorded an RBI in a fielder's choice in the third and then freshman Mike Thomas (Plainville, CT) produced a run on a ground-out after Porter led off the inning with a triple in the top of the fourth.
Worcester State would then score a trio of runs in the bottom of the fourth to knot the score 3-3. The Blue and Gold were highlight by RBI singles by sophomore Chris Creen (Worcester, MA/St. John's), freshman JD Salinas (Fredericksburg, TX) and Wilson.
In the fifth, the Lancers snapped the tie with a run in the bottom of the inning. With Rodriguez on second, Creen would manufacture the game-winning base knock with a two-out double to center field for the 4-3 lead.
WSU would grab one more run in the sixth on an RBI double by sophomore Nick Gezotis (Westfield, MA).
In the final three frames senior Bob DeVito (Webster, MA) and sophomore Shaun Slattery (Gardner, MA) would combine to set down eight of the last 11 batters.
In his second start of the season, DeVito (1-1) gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits over six innings of work. DeVito tallied four strikeouts and hit one batter as he also picked off a man in the fifth.
Slattery put the stamp on his third save in his fourth appearance with a perfect seventh. Slattery would also fan the last two batters that he would face.
Trafecanty (1-1) was dealt the setback for the Hawks. He allowed four earned runs on eight hits in four 2/3 innings. Trefecanty collected four strikeouts to go along with one walk and two wild pitches.
Creen finished 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs as Rodriguez came around to score twice.
The Lancers would turn four double-plays in the twin-bill including three in the opening contest. WSU is now 10-4 all-time against Roger Williams.
Worcester State will end their spring training trip to Florida with a double-header against starting at 1:30 against Bowdoin at Chain of Lakes Field #1 in Winterhaven.