Baseball Drops Two at Worcester State
Worcester, Mass. – The Framingham State University baseball team surrendered a run in the bottom of the eighth inning of game two on a two-out single by David Ruggiero to break a 5-5 tie as the Rams were swept this afternoon by Worcester State University in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action. The Lancers took the opener 9-4 and the nightcap 6-5.
With the victories the Lancers improve to 18-13 overall and 9-3 in conference play and now stand alone in second place. The Rams drop to 17-15 on the year and 7-5 in league action and hold the third spot in the MASCAC standings.
Ruggiero went a combined 5-for-8 on the afternoon including a pair of doubles and two RBIs in the first game. The junior also hurled the final one and 1/3 innings without allowing a hit and fanning a pair to pick up his first career win on the mound in the nightcap.
With the score tied at one apiece in the bottom of the fourth of the finale, WSU put up a three-spot when freshman Adam Barry cleared the bases with a double down the left field line for the 4-1 advantage.
The Blue and Gold added an insurance tally in the following frame when sophomore Steve Wallace laid down a squeeze to score junior Jeff Bolio from third for the four run cushion.
However, Framingham State did not go down easy in the top of the seventh as senior Billy Derosier (Shrewsbury, Mass.) laced an RBI double to left field and junior John Gill (Hudson, Mass.) slapped a two-out run producing single to center cutting the deficit to two runs.
After a walk loaded the bases for the Rams another walk and a hit batsman tied the contest 5-5 before Ruggiero was able to bear down and get the next batter swinging to end the threat.
Worcester State went down in order in the bottom half of the seventh and Framingham State followed with the same in the top half of the eighth to set the stage for Ruggiero's clutch performance at the plate.
Each team recorded 10 hits in the nightcap.
Junior Joe Perlak did not factor into the decision for the Lancers as he tossed the first six and 2/3 innings allowing five earned runs on 10 hits and recording a career-high nine strikeouts.
Ram junior Zack Kirby (Rochester, Mass.) was dealt the loss as he went the distance surrendering all six runs (five earned) on 10 hits with a pair of walks and three strikeouts.
In the opener, Worcester State snapped a scoreless game and put five runs on the board in the bottom of the second, highlighted by run producing singles from McGuill and Wallace and a two RBI double by Ruggiero.
Framingham State responded with a single score in the top of the third when Derosier knocked in a run with a base hit to right field for the 5-1 score.
The Blue and Gold tacked on a trio of runs in the fourth with RBI two-baggers from Ruggiero and Barry followed by a solo hit to plate a run by Bolio for the 8-1 advantage.
The Rams responded with a pair of their own in the top half of the fifth when junior Mark Mainini (Hull, Mass.) connected on a double to left center to plate two and cut into the deficit at 8-3.
Worcester State added an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth and a solo homer by senior Anthony Iafolla (Medfield, Mass.) in the top of the seventh contributed for the final score.
Junior Jared Kuzio pitched his second complete game in a row giving up four runs (three earned) on nine hits with three walks and three strikeouts to improve to 2-3 on the year.
Framingham State senior Matt DiCato (Winthrop, MA) fell to 2-4 with the setback after tossing the first five and 1/3 innings allowing nine runs (eight earned) on 10 hits with one walk and a pair of strikeouts.
Wallace finished the first contest 2-for-4 at the dish with an RBI and crossed home on two occasions, while Bolio added a pair of hits to go along with a run driven in and a run scored.
Derosier turned in a 4-for-7 day with a pair of RBI's and a run scored to lead the way for the Rams. Mainini added three hits while knocking in a pair and scoring twice and sophomore RJ Gray (Lowell, Mass.) combined to go 3-for-8 with an RBI and run scored.
Worcester State returns to the diamond tomorrow night as they travel to Fisher for a 7 p.m. affair and Framingham State returns home Wednesday afternoon for a 3:30 p.m. contest against Rhode Island College.
Portions of release courtesy of WSU Sports Information.