WORCESTER, Mass. – After falling behind 8-2 after the first three innings of play, the Worcester State Lancers (12-22) completed the comeback and defeated the Becker College Hawks (15-22) 10-9 in the bottom of the 9th inning when Mike Ferrara (Easton, Mass.) hit a sacrifice fly to score Mike Powers (Weymouth, Mass.) at the plate with the tying run. Moments later, Brian Bonacquisti (Pittsfield, Mass.) scored on a Becker defensive error for the win.
Powers went a perfect 5-for-5, while Adam Barry (Auburn, Mass.) went 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI. Worcester's Jake Ryan (Northbridge, Mass.) went 2-for-5 with both of his hits being triples and brining in two runs for the Blue and Gold. Ferrara batted at the .500 mark, as he went 2-for-4 with one run and two RBI.
Worcester State started the scoring with one run in the bottom of the 2nd inning when Dan McGuill (E. Longmeadow, Mass.) singled through the right side for an RBI.
Becker didn't get their first hit of the game until the top of the 3rd when they scored a heavy eight runs on six hits and two Lancer errors. With two outs and two runners on base, Adam Fuoco (Torrington, Conn.) singled up the middle to score the first of what would soon be eight runs. Back to-back singles came from Christopher Testa (Providence, RI), Randall Minougue (N. Kingstown, RI) and Niko Bedell (Manorville, NY) assisted in scoring the runs. Sullivan Bortner (Palmyra, Pa.) hit a three RBI double to conclude the spree.
The Hawks' kept their seven point lead throughout the bottom of the 3rd and top of 4th as each team scored one apiece (9-2).
Worcester State started chipping away at the Hawks' lead in the bottom of the 4th when they scored three runs on two hits and two errors. One of the hits was a two RBI triple to right center from Ryan. Barry came up next with another RBI on a single to centerfield, clipping the Hawks' advantage to four.
Worcester State started their scoring binge in the bottom of the seventh when there were back-to-back singles from Barry, George Bielizna (Danbury, Conn.), and Powers to load the bases. The next batter struck out to put two outs on the board, but that didn't stop the Lancers as Ferrara singled to second base to score a run, and McGuill walked for another RBI, resulting in a tighter 9-7 score.
Worcester's relief pitcher, Neil Begley (Springfield, Mass.) did not allow for any Hawk hits from the 7th inning and on, while Worcester was able to catch up and complete the comeback on one run in the bottom of the 8th, and the game-winner in the bottom of the 9th.
Begley earned the win as he pitched 5.1 innings and only allowed three hits and struck out seven Hawks at the plate. Becker's relief pitcher, Tanyon Ventres (Holden, Mass.) suffered the loss as he pitched 4.2 innings and allowed five runs (one unearned) on eight hits.
For Becker, Testa went 2-for-3, while Trevor Read (Blackstone, Mass.) and Bortner each hit a double against Worcester State's pitching staff.
The Lancers return to action tomorrow as they take on Fitchburg State in a MASCAC twin bill at the Lyons Diamond for a 2 p.m. start time.