PURCHASE, NY – The Worcester State University Lancers are off to a 5-0 start to their 2016 campaign, as they swept the SUNY-Purchase Panthers in Saturday afternoon's doubleheader.
GAME ONE: Worcester State 3, SUNY-Purchase 2 (10-innings)
Right-fielder Adam Barry (Auburn, Mass.) went 3-for-5 against the Panthers' pitching staff, as he claimed two RBI and reached home plate in the top of the 10th for the game-winning run off a single from Mike Ferrara (Easton, Mass.).
The Blue and Gold were the first team to reach the scoreboard after two full one-two-three innings, as they scored two runs off two hits in the top of the third. Dan McGuill (E. Longmeadow, Mass.) reached base on balls to give the Lancers their first runner of the game. Jake Ryan (Northbridge, Mass.) also reached on a walk to advance McGuill to second base. John Boyd (Worcester, Mass.) came to the plate next, as he hit a sacrifice fly out to left field, advancing McGuill to third and giving Boyd and option to steal second base. Next up was Barry, who singled deep for a 2-RBI hit, scoring Ryan and McGuill at the plate to put the Lancers up 2-0.
After three scoreless innings, the Panthers were able to reach the board in the bottom of the sixth off three hits to notch the game at 2-2. A hit by pitch and back-to-back singles from Ronald Pressley (Bronx, NY), Brenden LaPorte (Farmington, Conn.), and Teofilo Ramirez (Queens, NY) allotted for two runs to tie the game.
Strong defense and pitching led to another couple scoreless innings, until Worcester State's Ferrara singled to center field, in order to score Barry at the plate for the victory.
Boyd registered the win for the Lancers as he pitched 2.1 innings, facing 10 batters and only allowing one hit, one base on balls, and struck one out. SUNY-Purchase's Christopher Dreier (Mahopac, NY) absorbed the loss as he pitched 3.2 innings.
GAME TWO: Worcester State 6, SUNY-Purchase 2
After going 3-for-5 in the first game, Worcester State's Adam Barry (Auburn, Mass.) continued to shine as he went 3-for-4 in the second game of the afternoon. He scored two runs and had one RBI against the Panthers in the Lancers 6-2 triumph over SUNY-Purchase.
Worcester took the lead early on, as they scored two runs in the top of the first on three hits.
The Blue and Gold added to their lead in the top of the second as Jake Ryan (Northbridge, Mass.) singled to right field to score Brian Bonacquisti (Pittsfield, Mass.) at the plate for an additional run.
The Panthers were able to grab one run in the bottom of the third, to tighten the gap to two, only for the Lancers to grab three more runs in the top of the fifth to give Worcester State the 6-1 advantage.
SUNY-Purchase had two more innings to attempt to catch up to Worcester, though, were only able to seize one in the bottom of the sixth, leading to the 6-2 win for Worcester.
Two Lancers batted .500 as Ryan and Mike Ferrara (Easton, Mass.) each went 2-for-4 in game number two. Ryan and Ferrera each had a double, while Ryan recorded his first triple of the season. Shortstop Mike Powers (Weymouth, Mass.) registered a hit on the afternoon, while bringing in two RBI and a run at the plate.
Kyle Sullivan (Hudson, Mass.) marked his first win of the season, pitching a complete six innings and striking out five at the plate. Purchase's Andrew Fingerhut (Smithtown, NY) took the Panther's second loss of the day, as he gave up five runs in four innings pitched.
The Lancers return to play this Tuesday (Mar. 8) where they will take on UMass-Dartmouth in a non-conference matchup at the New England Baseball Complex in Northborough, Mass. for a 3:00 p.m. game time.