Worcester, MA- In the final regular season series of the year, the Worcester State Baseball team (8-25, 7-11) are hosting Mass Maritime (16-18, 9-9) in the opening game of the three game series with post-season implications on the line. The last time these two teams met, was in the initial round of last year's MASCAC Playoffs where the Buccaneers came away with the win and an ending the Lancers are looking to flip today. This afternoon's game will also serve as the team's senior day where they will be honoring their seven seniors, Colin Fitzgerald (Auburn, MA), Tom Halliwell (Leominster, MA), Joseph Morgan (Shrewsbury, MA), Nick Bousquet (Athol, MA), Danny DiMassimo (Pittsfield, MA), Steve Grenham (Norwood, MA), and Frankie Hernandez (Framingham, MA). 

Final

MMA: 5

Worcester State: 12

How It Happened:

Stepping up as pitcher for the Worcester State Lancers would be DiMassimo, who would pitch to senior Tucker Leslie (Mashpee, MA) and allow the first hit of the game on just his second pitch. Just seconds later, a crucial error committed by the Lancers would open the gateway for Leslie to touch home plate, marking the first run of the game for the Mass Maritime Buccaneers and eventually lead to their second, this time coming from sophomore Michael Logiudice (Bridgewater, MA). 

Now down by two runs in just the first inning, the Lancers would garner several hits, one of which would lead to a double for junior Tyler Smith (Leominster, MA), but before he could capitalize on his opportunity, Mass Maritime pitcher and junior Sam Huffman (Guilford, MA) would strike out Hernandez and quickly send the game into the second inning, an inning that the Lancers fully took control of. 

With Fitzgerald up at bat, he would strike the ball into right field for a single that would ultimately allow both sophomore Nathan Thurber (Framgham, MA) and Halliwell to secure two runs and tie the game at. As both teams aimed to break the tie, the Mass Maritime Buccaneers would be the first to do so, with first year Greyson Sandoz (Shrewsbury, NJ) scoring their third run of the game. In what could have been a beautiful play by the Lancers, first year Ryan Jewett (Natick, MA) would throw the ball to second base, tagging junior Michael Estrada (Covington, LA) out before first year Jeremy DeLacruz (Lowell, MA) would attempt to quickly toss the ball to first but after an error committed by Hernandez, the play would not come into fruition and the Lancers could only watch as senior AJ Pietrafesa (Harwinton, CT) would tally the fourth run for the Buccaneers. 

In yet another two-run deficit, the Lancers would take the field and Jewett would jumpstart the Lancer's second comeback by scoring his first run of the game before Smith would follow behind him, sliding into home plate for their fourth run and re-tying the game at 4-4. That was until the Lancers would continue their hot streak by loading the bases and allow Halliwell to score once more which would generate their first lead of this close matchup. 

​​But, with momentum gradually building up for the Lancers, DiMassimo would leave the Buccaneers scoreless at the top of the fourth, while the next two innings would bring in a whopping five more runs for the Lancers, scored by Smith, Hernandez, Fitzgerald, Doyle, and Jewett. 

After a long drought for the Buccaneers, first year Damon White (Buzzards Bay, MA) would get his team their fifth run of the game in the top of the seventh and several innings later would be undertaken by the Lancers once again after junior Michael Cooper (Fitchburg, MA) would strike the ball past the fences of Kevin D. Lyons diamond and brought home himself, as well as his fellow teammate Halliwell, leading to a final score of 5-12. 

What' Next:

Both teams return to action in Bourne to close out the series  with Worcester currently sitting at (9-25, 8-11) on the season and final post season standings still up for grabs.