WORCESTER, Mass. - The Worcester State University baseball team managed just four hits on Sunday afternoon in a 6-3 loss to Becker College in non-conference action at Clark's Granger Field.
With the loss, Worcester State's seven-game winning streak comes to a close, and the team falls to 7-3 on the season. Becker wins for the fourth time in its last five games, and jumps to 5-8 on the year.
Becker got on the board early, thanks to a solo home run over the left center field wall from senior Evan Barrera in the top of the first inning. The Hawks still held a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth, when Worcester State's Seth Leslie (Phillipston, Mass.) tied the score with a big fly of his own over the fence in left field.
The Hawks retook a one-run lead in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI double from senior Daniel Diaz, but their second lead of the contest would be short-lived, as freshman Andrew Miller (Naples, Fla.) scored a run from third on an RBI groundout in the bottom of the inning.
RBI base hits from Noah Rivera, Tanyon Ventres, and Coby Hussey in the eighth and ninth innings gave Becker its largest lead of the afternoon at 6-2, which would prove too much to overcome for the Lancers despite bringing the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth. With the bases loaded and only one away, Worcester State could only manage a sacrifice fly from senior Ben Palatino (Hudson, Mass.) in the inning, as Becker closed the deal.
Becker pitcher Tevon Johnson was superb on the afternoon as he picked up his first win of the season. Johnson threw seven innings, allowing two earned on just three hits while striking out five. Worcester State starter Sean Mahan (Woburn, Mass.) got a no-decision on the hill, despite allowing just two earned on seven hits with three strikeouts. The loss went to reliever Joey Zawisza (Newington, Conn.), who allowed two earned on three hits in a third of an inning. Barrera came on in relief in the ninth for Becker to get a two-out save.
Worcester State will look to return to its winning ways on Wednesday with a contest against WPI at 3:30 p.m. at the New England Baseball Complex.
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