AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The Worcester State University baseball team earned their third victory of the season Thursday as they edged the Elmhurst Blue Jays by a score of 6-4 at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex.

Freshman Ben Palatino (Hudson, Mass.) led the Lancers offensively as he went 4-for-5 with two runs and one RBI. Classmates Jake Ryan (Northbridge, Mass.) and Mike Powers (Weymouth, Mass.) each batted 2-for-4 on the occasion, while Seth Leslie (Phillipston, Mass.) picked up two hits and two RBI.

Worcester State's leadoff hitter, Ryan, got the Lancers off to a great start with a double. Ryan then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Kenan Kolanda (Sterling, Mass.), from where Adam Barry (Auburn, Mass.) batted Ryan in for the first tally of the game. Mike Ferrara (Easton, Mass.) accounted for the other run in the inning, as he scored on an RBI single from Palatino.

The Blue and Gold boosted the score to 4-0 in the 2^nd and 3^rd innings, scoring on a wild pitch in the 2^nd and on a single from Leslie in the 3^rd.

Elmhurst spoiled the shutout in the bottom of the 5^th inning when Ben Havel (Carol Stream, Ill.) hit a 2-RBI single to cut the Lancers' lead in half.

Worcester State pulled away from the foes once again in the top of the 7^t when both Palatino and Leslie hit RBI singles, shifting the score to 6-2.

After tallying one run in the bottom of the 8^th, Elmhurst came just short of a comeback in the bottom of the 9^th scoring only one run and then closing the game out with a routine groundout, leaving three men on base.

Worcester State's opening pitcher, Kyle Sullivan (Hudson, Mass.) earned the win in a 6-inning performance with seven strikeouts. Owen Gibbons (Sterling, Mass.) and Bradleigh Saltsman (Ayer, Mass.) each came in for an inning and only gave up one hit apiece, while Kyle Baker (Fresno, Calif.) closed out the game and registered the save.

The Blue Jays were led by A.J. Compton (Mount Prospect, Ill.) who went 3-for-3 with a walk on the day. Elmhurst other four hits were scattered throughout the team.

The baseball team resumes play tomorrow as they take on Southern Maine in an 11:30 a.m. game at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex, before wrapping up their Florida play on Saturday when they face up against St. Joseph's (Me.).