FRAMINGHAM, Mass. - The Worcester State University baseball team came from behind in game two to split a doubleheader with Framingham State University and take two of three in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference weekend series Sunday afternoon at Bowditch Field. The Rams took game one 3-2, before the Lancers rebounded to claim game two 5-4.
With the split, Worcester State moves to 12-13 overall this season, and 5-7 in the conference. Framingham falls to 13-13 and 7-5 in the MASCAC.
Game 1 - Framingham State 3, Worcester State 2
The Lancers got on the board in the top of the first inning when senior Ben Palatino (Hudson, Mass.) roped an RBI single down the line in left, scoring freshman Andrew Miller (Naples, Fla.) to put his team up 1-0. Junior Kenan Kolanda (Sterling, Mass.) extended Worcester's lead to 2-0 in the top of the second by pounding a solo homer over the fence in center.
Framingham scored on sacrifice flies in the third and fifth innings to tie the score 2-2, before taking the lead on an RBI single from freshman Gino DeSimone in the bottom of the sixth.
Worcester State went down 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh as Framingham's Kyle Hodgson finished off his complete game victory allowing two earned on seven hits with 10 strikeouts. Lancer sophomore Sean Mahan (Woburn, Mass.) allowed three earned on six hits in 5.1 innings to take the loss.
Game 2 - Worcester State 5, Framingham State 4
Framingham State appeared on its way to a sweep of the doubleheader until the Lancers rallied with a dramatic seventh inning to take the weekend's rubber match.
Kolanda and Sam Allen (Springfield, Mass.) led off the inning with back-to-back base hits, and Kolanda would score on a throwing error after freshman Michael Chaves Jr. (Hudson, Mass.) dropped down a pinch hit bunt single. A batter later, Cooper Bigelow (Leominster, Mass.) tied the score on a sacrifice fly, before an RBI single from Miller gave Worcester State the 5-4 lead.
The Rams threatened to spoil the comeback in the bottom of the seventh, but freshman Aidan Abernathy (Methuen, Mass.) forced a foul out to first base to end the game with the bases loaded for his second save of the season. Starter Kyle Gray (Braintree, Mass.) got the win, allowing four earned on 10 hits over 6.2 innings.
Worcester State will be back in action on Monday with a road trip to non-conference foe Salve Regina. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.
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