Baseball Splits with Worcester State as Kirby Sets New Single Season Strikeout Mark

Framingham, Mass. – Senior Zack Kirby (Rockport, Mass.) established a new single season Framingham State University strikeout mark in the first inning of game two as the Rams split a  Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) baseball doubleheader against Worcester State at Bowditch Field.  The Rams took the opener 6-2, before falling to the Lancers 5-4 in the night cap.

With the split, the Rams are now 19-12 on the season and 6-4 in the MASCAC, while the Lancers are now 17-12 on the year and remain atop the MASCAC standings at 6-2.

Sophomore Mike Andrews (Stoneham, Mass.) tossed a complete game in the opener to earn his third victory of the season.  Andrews allowed two earned runs, both in the first inning, on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Senior Zach George (Attleboro, Mass.) led off the game with a triple to right center and came around to score on a ground out putting the visitors up 1-0. 

The Rams took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning. Senior John Gill (Hudson, Mass.) singled and scored on an error tying the game at 1-1.  Senior Mark Mainini (Hull, Mass.) added a second run in the frame when he scored from third on a wild pitch.

Senior Jeff Bolio (Oxford, Mass.) tied the game in the top of the fifth with a solo homerun, but the Rams plated four in the bottom of the inning to seal the victory. The Rams sent eight men to the plate and loaded the bases with no outs.  Senior Billy Derosier (Shrewsbury, Mass.) bounced into a fielder's choice to plate the first run and with two outs senior Kevin Driscoll (Chelmsford, Mass.) worked a bases loaded walk.  Senior R.J. Gray (Lowell, Mass.) followed with a two RBI single to cap the scoring.

Senior Kris Doyle (Millbury, Mass.) took the loss for the Lancers going four and two thirds allowing six runs, four earned, on three hits with seven walks and eight strikeouts.

Kirby entered the game one behind the previous record of 59 held by Mark White in 1989 and wasted no time surpassing the mark as he struckout the first two batters of the game for the Lancers. Kirby, who took the loss in game two, finished with 12 strikeouts and now has 70 on the season.

The Rams offense wasted no time getting on the board in game two as Mainini belted a two run homerun to left in the bottom of the first driving in John Gill (Hudson, Mass.), who had singled earlier in the inning. Freshman Jordan Pallazola (Rockport, Mass.) added another run in the inning on a sacrifice fly to deep center.

The game would remain 3-0 until the top of the fifth when Worcester State loaded the bases with one out.  Sophomore Adam Barry (Auburn, Mass.) plated a pair with single up the middle, but Kirby was able to record a strikeout and a fly out to get out of the jam and preserve the one run lead.

Senior Ivan Colon (Waltham, Mass.) pushed the lead back to two with a solo homerun in the bottom of the sixth, but the Lancers capitalized on a pair of Framingham errors in the top of the seventh to score three runs and secure the victory and the split.

Both teams are back in action on Monday with MASCAC doubleheaders.  The Rams travel to Massachusetts Maritime on Monday for a 12 p.m. start, while the Lancers host Salem State also at 12 p.m.