SALEM, Mass. -- The Vikings of Salem State swept the Lancers of Worcester State in an afternoon doubleheader, winning game one by a score of 4-1 and game two, 3-0. The Vikings improve to 15-16-1 on the year and 9-1 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Lancers drop to 11-22 on the season and 1-9 in the MASCAC.
GAME ONE: Salem State 4, Worcester State 1
John Boyd (Worcester, Mass.) led off the game with a double off Vikings' starter Sean Buckland (Lynn, Mass.) to supply the Lancers with some early offense. Two batters later, Boyd was brought in by a Mike Powers (Weymouth, Mass.) single for an early 1-0 edge. After a tough start in the first inning, Buckland settled in as he retired the side in the second and third innings. Worcester State starter Tyler Barrie (Oxford, Mass.) struggled in the bottom of the fourth inning, surrendering two runs. During that stretch, Barrie walked three batters and allowed Alex Toomey (Beverly, Mass.) to reach on a fielding error.Andrew Deloury (Peabody, Mass.) drove in the second run with a fielder's choice RBI that scored Toomey. In the fifth inning, Worcester State rightfielder Adam Barry (Auburn, Mass.) made an oustanding play on a deep drive to right by Richard Fecteau (Newbury, Mass.), grabbing the ball just before crashing into the fence.
In the sixth, the Vikings added some insurance runs with a two-out rally. After Teghan Malionek(Salem, Mass.) reached on a bunt single and stole second, Brendan Greene (Winchester, Mass.) reached first on an error by the Lancers' shortstop. With Malionek on third, Barrie threw a wild pitch that allowed Malionek to cross the plate to enhance Salem State's lead to 3-1. Deloury drove in his second run of the day with a double down the left field line that put the Vikings ahead 4-1. Despite allowing back-to-back singles in the beginning of the seventh, Buckland closed out the inning unharmed as he picked up his sixth win of the season as he secured a 4-1 victory.
Buckland (6-0) went all seven innings, giving up one run on seven hits. Barrie (4-4) went six innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out five.
GAME TWO: Salem State 3, Worcester State 0
After a scoreless first inning, the Vikings tagged Kyle Sullivan (Hudson, Mass.) for two runs on three hits. After Colton Fontaine (Newburyport, Mass.) and Joe White (Bellingham, Mass.) singled, Malionek scored White with a sacrifice groundball to the right side of the field for the game's first run. Up next, Greene hit an RBI-single that allowed him to advance to second after the contested throw at the plate.
In the third, the Vikings added another run when Dan Connors (Danvers, Mass.) hit a RBI-single that scored Mike Davis (Peabody, Mass.) who hit a ground rule double earlier in the inning.
Salem State starter Steve Leavitt (Peabody, Mass.) was cruising through the Lancers lineup as he only gave up three hits through six innings, including two consecutive innings retiring the side in order. Leavitt also retired the side in the seventh to secure the 3-0 victory.
Leavitt (2-2) went the distance as he allowed only three hits. Sullivan (1-6) pitched six innings surrendering three runs on nine hits.
The Lancers will host the Hawks of Becker College on April 25th at 3:30 p.m. while the Vikings take on the Rams of Framingham State for an afternoon double-header beginning at 2:00 p.m.
Release Courtesy of Salem State Sports Information