Worcester, MA --- Junior Torre Swanson (Redding, CA) tossed a complete-game five-hitter with seven strikeouts as he helped lead MIT to a 2-1 triumph over Worcester State in non-conference baseball action at Tivnan field this afternoon.
With the win and the loss both teams now sport identical 22-12 records on the season. The Engineers, who lost to Wheaton in yesterday's NEWMAC Tournament Championship game, had been ranked eighth in the first NCAA Division III Baseball New England Regional rankings.
Swanson (3-3) dominated as he allowed the run in the bottom of the third inning. Swanson also issued three free passes in his 10th appearance and fifth start of the 2011 campaign.
Lancer sophomore Nick Bonofiglio (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) drew a lead-off walk to start things for the hosts. Bonofiglio then moved to second on a single by junior Jack Rafferty (Thompson, CT) and third on a sacrifice bunt. Junior Joe Eramo (Shirley, MA) followed with a squeeze play to plate Bonofiglio for the 1-0 advantage.
Swanson would then settle down and retire 15 out of the next 18 batters that he would see – including runners who reached third base in the fourth and sixth innings. The effort would give the visitors a chance for a late uprising.
Junior Cruz Rosado (Clinton, MA/Worcester Tech) threw the ball well for six solid innings as he scattered four hits and did not allow a runner to get past second base until he ran into trouble in the top of the seventh.
Third-year Dan Hyatt (Wallingford, CT) began the seventh frame with a single to right and then classmate AJ Hansborough (Deltona, FL) reached on a sacrifice bunt-single that could not be fielded by the pitcher. With men on first and second, sophomore Grant Iwamoto (Aiea, HI) hit a run-producing single to drive in Hyatt to knot the score 1-1.
Rosado would remain on the mound into the top of the ninth. After he would plunk the Iwamoto and then issue a walk to freshman Patrick Dayton (Archer City, TX), he was lifted to bring on sophomore closer Shaun Slattery (Gardner, MA), but Slattery gave a single to senior Ryne Barry (Phoenix, AZ) for the go-ahead run.
The Lancers would threaten in the bottom of the ninth with sophomore Nick Gezotis (Westfield, MA) and junior pinch-hitter Tyler McElman (Marlboro, MA) on the corners for the tying runs with two outs, but Swanton fanned the final batter to end the contest.
Rosado (4-2) punched out two and walked a pair in his eight 2/3 innings of work.
Iwamoto, Barry and sophomore James McKinney (Wakefield, RI) all paced the nine-hit attack for MIT as Worcester State had no multi-hitters.
The second-seeded Lancers will look ahead to this week's MASCAC Baseball Tournament and play third-seeded Bridgewater State at 7 PM at Lake Park.
The Engineers, who are still hopeful for an NCAA at-large berth, will continue their season with a road-game at RIC at 4 PM on Wednesday.
The squads seven seniors were recognized in a brief post-game ceremony for participating in their final regular season home game on "Senior Day". They included Corey Abbascia (Shrewsbury, MA), Bobby DeVito (Webster, MA), Chad Kasik (Dudley, MA), Paul Rodriguez (San Antonio, TX), Corey McDonald (Hudson, MA), Johno Hinkell (North Adams, MA) and Nick Fluegge (Ware, MA).
