Worcester, MA --- Endicott junior Eric Lemke (Southington, CT) and freshman Harry Oringer (Dartmouth, MA) both combined for six hits and six RBIs to help lead the Gulls to a 16-4 victory over Worcester State this afternoon at Rockwood Park.
With the win Endicott improves to 8-9 as they have now won four out of their last five games.
The setback spoiled the debut of the new baseball field on campus as it marks the first time in nearly 20 years that the Lancers (4-11) have played on the grounds at Rockwood Park. President Barry Maloney and Chair of the Board of Trustees John Brissette were on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch to h elp commemorate the occasion.
The Gulls wasted no time getting their bats going as they went up 3-0 in the top of the first. Lemke scored the first of his two runs of the game on an errant throw by the shortstop on a double steal before sophomore Tad Gold (M. Vineyard, MA) and senior Colin Sitarz (W. Hartford, CT) both tacked on RBIs.
WSU responded in the bottom frame when Nick Gezotis (Westfield, MA) was plunked and came around to score on heads-up running play on an attempted swipe of second, with runners on the corners.
Endicott went up 6-1 in the top of the third when they took advantage of a key Lancer miscue that started off the inning. After Gold plated his second run of the game, Oringer laced a two-run single up the middle.
The Blue and Gold responded and made it a four-run game when sophomore Joseph Carlier (Rockland, MA) singled in classmate Dan Ubele (Tyngsboro, MA).
Endicott scored two more runs on passed balls in the top fourth before Worcester State scored twice in the bottom of the fifth on a perfectly executed double steal by Carlier, who leaped over the catcher to avoid the tag at home, and an RBI fielder's choice by freshman Jeff Bolio (Oxford, MA).
But the Gulls offense exploded for eight runs in the final three frames. Oringer highlighted the scoring when he belted back-to-back two-run singles in the seventh and eighth innings. Gold, Sitarz and senior John Hasley (Reading, MA) each crossed home plate twice for Endicott who nearly batted around in both frames.
Endicott sophomore Connor McLaughlin (Clinton, MA) picked up the win in relief as he combined with junior Michael Griffin (Arlington, MA) for five innings of two-hit baseball. The pair struck out two and McLaughlin issued just one walk.
Freshman Joe Perlak (Chicopee, MA) shoulders his second setback of the season for WSU. Perlak only went the first three innings allowing six runs (two earned) on five hits with one walk and he struck out no one.
The Lancer five hurlers out of the bullpen allowed 10 runs (seven earned) on five hits while they combined to yield 10 walks on the afternoon.
Carlier had three base-knocks with a double and Gezotis finished with two while Gezotis improves his torrid hitting streak to five contests.
Worcester State will play again tomorrow at Rockwood Park in a matchup against city rival WPI at 3:30. Endicott heads to Quincy to face off against Eastern Nazarene in a CCC twinbill on Saturday at 1:30.
