Worcester, MA --- Worcester State defeated Castleton State twice behind a pair of stellar pitching performances by senior teammates Chad Kasik (Dudley, MA) and Bobby DeVito (Webster, MA) at Foley Stadium. Kasik fanned seven in six innings of work in a 4-3 triumph in the first game and DeVito would toss a two-hitter with four strikeouts in a 2-0 nightcap victory.
The Lancers, now winners of five straight, improve their record to 8-3 while the Spartans slip to 1-10 on the young season. The twinbill marked the first time that the two programs have ever faced one another.
In game one, Worcester State strung together four hits in the bottom of the first inning for the quick 3-0 advantage.
With one out, sophomore Chris Creen (Worcester, MA/St. John's) and senior Corey McDonald (Hudson, MA) got the rally started with singles. Then fourth-year Nick Fluegge (Ware, MA) followed with an RBI double, senior Johno Hinkell (N. Adams, MA) plated McDonald with a ground-out and junior Tyler McElman (Marlboro, MA) drove in the third run with a double to right.
But Castleton State cut into the deficit with a pair of runs in the top of the third. With two outs, senior Jack Lancelin (Chatham, NY) scampered home from first on an error in the outfield, after a single to right by junior David Brandt (Contoocook, NH). Brandt then scored on an RBI single by sophomore Ryan Zielinski (Schenectady, NY).
With the 3-2 edge, the Lancers would push across a key insurance run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI triple down the right-field line by sophomore Adam Metzger (Northampton, MA).
The Spartans promptly responded by threatening on a run producing double by Brandt with two men down, but the visitors would leave the tying run on third-base as Kasik induced a strikeout to end the frame.
Kasik would retire three out of the last four men that he would face to end his outing in the sixth as he improve his record to 3-0. Kasik yielded three runs (one earned) on five hits while he also issued two free passes.
Sophomore Shaun Slattery (Gardner, MA) nailed down his fourth save in his fifth appearance as he struck out the side in the top of the seventh – all coming with full counts.
Junior Tyler Erickson (Naugatuck, CT) was dealt the setback for the Spartans. Erickson (1-2) went the distance throwing 102 pitches in six innings of work. He would allow four earned runs on nine hits to go along with seven punch-outs and one hit batter.
Brandt was the lone multi-hitter with two hits for Castleton State while McDonald finished 3-for-3. McElman also contributed a 2-for-3 performance at the plate for WSU.
Facing freezing temperatures and a high wind, the crowd that stuck around for the second game was treated to a pitcher's duel where both hurlers combined to allow five base-knocks, including just one for extra-bases.
DeVito had a perfect game going until he was touched up in the top of the third with a walk and a bunt single, but then he induced a ground-out to end the frame. DeVito also allowed another base hit in the top of the fourth, but he would eventually escape the frame by getting an out on a fielder's choice and then end the inning with a strkeout.
Senior Seth Harrington (Bennington, VT) retired nine of his first ten batters without allowing a hit before sophomore Nick Gezotis (Westfield, MA) led off the bottom of the fourth with a double to right field. After Harrington would set down the next two batters, senior Paul Rodriguez (San Antonio, TX) notched the big hit as he drove in Gezotis with a single up the middle.
From the fifth inning on, DeVito (2-1) was outstanding as he would only allow one base-runner for the rest of the game. After Lancelin reached on an error in the infield to start things off for Castleton State, he would move to third on a sacrifice bunt and a ground-out, but the Spartans would strand the game-tying run as DeVito ended the threat by fanning the last batter.
Gezotis helped the Lancers score their second run in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Gezotis got on with a single, but he ended up at third base due to a misplayed ball in the outfield. Gezotis would then come home on a wild pitch for just the momentum that WSU would need to earn the sweep.
Harrington's record dips to 0-2 as he surrendered two runs (one earned) on three hits with one walk and three strikeouts in six innings of work.
Gezotis was the lone multi-hitter for either team (2-for-3) in the second game as he also scored both runs in the contest.
With five doubles this afternoon, the Lancers now have 30 two-baggers in 11 games this season for an average of 2.72.
Both teams will play again tomorrow. Worcester State entertains Babson in a 1 o'clock contest at Clark University while Castleton State looks to take two against Johnson and Wales on the road in a twinbill starting at noon.