MARLBOROUGH, Mass. – The Worcester State University Lancers earned their third straight victory in the month of February over the Nichols College Bisons Sunday (Feb. 28) afternoon at the New England Baseball Complex (NEBC).
The first four and a half innings were scoreless until Nichols College collected a run on two hits in the bottom of the fourth. Greg Eng (Middletown, R.I.) singled to right center, allowing for Spencer Madden (Nashua, N.H.) to round the bases and put the Bisons up on the board.
The Lancers changed the pace of the game in the top of the fifth when Josh Pageau (Milbury, Mass.) reached on a walk, and Mike Ferrara (Easton, Mass.) reached on an error. Waiting on deck for an opportunity was Mike Powers (Weymouth, Mass.) who slammed the ball over the left field fence for a home run to put Worcester State on top 3-1. The Lancers scored one more run in the fifth when Kevin Valentine (Milford, Mass.) hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Josh Creamer (Worcester, Mass.) at the plate to make it a 4-1 ballgame.
The Lancers came through with another power inning in the top of the eighth to add to their lead. Singles from Creamer, Jake Ryan (Northbridge, Mass.), and a double from Adam Barry (Auburn, Mass.) gave the Lancers a 9-1 advantage as they scored three runs on four hits and one Bison error.
The bottom of the eighth was the Bison's inning to shine as they scored four runs on five hits and one Lancer error. Back-to-back singles from Joe Assenza (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.), Cam Cook (Phoenixville, Pa.), and Matt Hardy (North Attleboro, Mass.) put the Bisons in good standing early in the inning, as they all eventually reached home base to put three runs on the scoreboard. The Bisons added another run when Eng reached on an error after Ross Caswell (Randolph, Vt.) and Nick Roy (Middletown, Conn.) were already on with singles. With the bases loaded, Nichols sent Anthony Razzano (Shrewsbury, Mass.) in to pinch hit. Razzano was hit by a pitch to walk in the Bisons' fifth and final run of the game (9-5).
Worcester State's Powers went 4-for-5 (.800) on the afternoon as he registered a home run, a double, three RBI and two runs. Ryan went 2-for-3 (.667) on the afternoon as he added in a run and an RBI.
For the Bisons, Caswell marked a .667 (2-for-3) batting average, while Eng went .500 (1-for-2) and got on base two additional times on base on balls.
Nichols' Vincent Amato (Brooklyn, N.Y.) suffered the loss for the Bisons as he pitched four complete innings and allowed four runs on three hits. The Lancers pitched nine different players throughout the game. Overall as a team, they allowed 10 hits and five runs (one unearned).
Next up the Lancers will travel to SUNY-Purchase on Mar. 5 for a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. The Bisons will resume play on Mar. 11 when they travel to Port Charlotte, Fla. to take on Ohio Wesleyan in the Snowbird Classic.