NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. – The Worcester State University baseball team picked up their first loss of the 2017 season as the UMass Dartmouth Corsairs defeated the Lancers 7-0 in a Tuesday afternoon contest at the New England Baseball Complex (NEBC).
The Corsairs tallied seven runs on seven hits in the win, as Brandon Polignone (Peabody, Mass.) led the team with two doubles and an RBI. Ezequiel Sanchez (Mantai, Puerto Rico) reached base twice in the contest – once on an RBI double, and another on a walk. Taylor Cacciola (W. Greenwich, R.I.) registered a game-high two RBI in the contest.
Following seven back-to-back strikeouts from Worcester State's starting pitcher, Luke Brennan (Worcester, Mass.), UMass Dartmouth put the pressure on the Lancers when two men reached base on walks in the top of the 3rd. It was then that Sanchez hit an RBI double to left field for the first run of the game. The Corsairs added two more following a Worcester State error and a 2-RBI double from Cacciola.
The Corsairs listed two more runs in the top of the 6th inning on an RBI double from Polignone, and a sacrifice bunt from Cote Monte (Swansea, Mass.). They collected the seventh and final run of the game on a walk with the bases loaded, as Kenny Michael (Norwood, Mass.) was credited with the RBI.
Worcester State collected six hits in the loss, and committed two errors on the defensive end. Right fielder Kevin Larkin (Bristol, Conn.) went 2-for-3 (.667) while Jake Ryan (Northbridge, Mass.), Mike Ferrara (Easton, Mass.), Brian Bonacquisti (Pittsfield, Mass.), and Sam Allen (Springfield, Mass.) picked up the other Lancer hits.
UMass Dartmouth's relief pitcher Dylan Collett (Albany, N.Y.) earned the Corsairs' first win on the mound, as he pitched two innings, and struck out five of his 10 batters faced to hold the Corsairs' 4-run gain on the Lancers.
Worcester State's starting pitcher, Brennan, suffered the loss as he pitched three innings and allowed four runs (one unearned) on three hits. Despite the loss, he struck out a total of nine of his 15 batters faced.
The Lancers will return to action tomorrow when they face Lasell in a doubleheader, also at NEBC, starting at 2:30 p.m. UMass Dartmouth will pack up their bags and head to Auburndale, Fla. to take part in the Russ Matt Central Florida Invitational, starting on Friday, Mar. 10.