Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Baseball team (8-21, 7-8) returned to conference action on Friday as they hosted the Salem State Vikings (15-13, 8-7) in their second to last conference series of the regular season. The Lancers are looking to get back into winning form after dropping a tough battle with Salve Regina on Saturday.
How it Happened:
The top of the first would see the first scoring as the Vikings Owen Duggan (Billerica, MA) would hit a line drive up the middle for an RBI to drive in his teammate Yabdril Gonzalaz (New Haven, CO) for an early lead in this afternoon matchup. The Lancers would respond in the second during their at bat when sophomore Joe Auger (Lowell, MA) smashes one out in right center field, falling for a hit that drives in sophomore Nate Thurber (Framingham, MA) to make this a 1-1 game after 2 innings.
The third inning would be action packed for both squads as Salem's Owen Duggan (Billerica, MA) drives in a base hit RBI to grab the lead and James Dolan (Rockland, MA) would hit a missile out to left field for an RBI double and puts a runner at third to increase the lead 3-1. Edward Field (Gloucter, MA) would bloop one over the second baseman to get in for a single to drive in a run to keep the lead up for Salam State. The Lancers would not be quiet though in the bottom of the inning as first year Ryan Jewett (Natick, MA) would hit one out past shortstop for an RBI single and drive in first year Kevin Doyle (Bridgewater, MA) to make this a one run ball game. Frankie Hernandez (Framingham, MA) the senior power hitter would smash a ball out to center field to advance a runner to second and drive in juniorTyler Smith (Leominster,MA) across home plate.
The hits would continue for Worcester State in this 3rd inning as sophomore Nate Thurber (Framingham, MA) singles out to center and would advance to second off of an error and also have a runner at third, but would also drive in Jewett for a run making this a tie game. It would not stop here; sophomore Joe Auger (Lowell, MA) would continue the momentum for the Lancers as he hit one out to left field for a 2 RBI single increasing the lead for the Lancers. Tyler Smith (Leominster, MA) the Junior, would get his chance again and do just that by demolishing a ball out to right field for a 3 RBI double to increase the lead making this a 4-9 ballgame.
Salem would respond with a run of their own in the fourth as Connor Dolan (Rockland, MA) would get the ball rolling for the Vikings as they desperately needed runners on base to gain some momentum. It would not take long for them to get runners in scoring position. Mark Smith (East Haven, CO) would get to first then make his way all the way to third off of a bad throw over to first by the Lancers pitcher. That would result in an RBI scored by James Dolan (Rockland, MA). Gonzalez would line a fly ball out to right field driving in Mark Smith (East Haven, CO). The scoring would not stop there as Brady Boucher (Tauton, MA) would get a hold of a ball and single out to right field for a 2 RBI making this the last hit in the inning resulting in a score of 9-8 and just a single run game.
The bottom of the fifth would see the Lancers answer as the first year student Jeremy DeLacruz (Lowell, MA) would launch a ball out to left center field for an RBI double that would score Auger across the plate to extend the lead for the Lancers.
In the sixth James Dolan (Rockland, MA) of the Vikings would rally up the team and get a piece of the ball and double out to left center field and drive in a run to make this now just a single run game once again.
Throughout the remaining innings both of the team's defense would really step up and not allow any runs as there would be multiple hits either teams could get any runs across the plate and tt would come in the top of the 9th and Salem State got what they wanted to tie the game as Jake Boucher (Wallingford, CO) would absolutely demolish the ball to left center field for an RBI double to tie this game up 10-10 with just 2 outs remaining.
It would not slow down here for the Vikings as Edward Field (Gloucester, MA) would hit one for a single to center field to now break the tie and extend the lead. Salem State kept it up with the momentum and Aidan Lynch (North Andover, MA) blasts a double to left center for an RBI and scored in a run to now extend the lead to 2 being a 12-10 game. James Dolan (Rockland, MA) would fly one out to finish off the huge inning for the Vikings. Salem State would make quick work of the bottom of the inning to preserve the win.
What's Next:
Worcester State now moves to (8-22, 7-9) and will head to Salem State (16-13, 9-7) tomorrow for a 7-inning double header with first pitch for game one set for 12pm.