Worcester, MA - The Worcester State Lancer baseball team split a MASCAC doubleheader with the Rams of Framingham State Saturday afternoon at Tivnan Field in Worcester, MA. The Lancers took Game 1, 10-2, as they scored in every inning, while the Rams used an 8-run outburst in the top of the 7th inning of Game 2 to earn the split, 11-3. With the split, Worcester State finishes its regular season 25-10 (10-4 MASCAC) and earns the second seed in the upcoming MASCAC Tournament. Framingham closes out their season at 9-19 (3-11 MASCAC).

In Game 1, Worcester State got 4 runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back as they scored in each of their at bats. The Lancers pounded out 13 hits including homeruns by Bobby Montalto (Hudson, MA) and Jeremy Foskett (Charlton, MA). Montalto finished the first game going 3 for 3 with two doubles to go along with his blast to right leading off the bottom of the first inning.

Framingham’s Mario Maloni (Agawam, MA) was the lone bright spot for the Rams going 2 for 3 in the game.

AJ Hatton (Hudson, MA) was strong on the mound for the Lancers going the distance and earning his fourth win of the year. Hatton scattered five hits in giving up just one earned run and striking out five Rams along the way.

Game 2 was a different story. Montalto led off the bottom of the first inning with his second lead-off homer of the day giving the Lancers an early 1-0 lead. Framingham took the lead in the top of the third, 2-1, as Matt Thistile (Lynn, MA) led off the inning with a solo shot and a Dave Brumby (Northboro, MA) single later scored Phil McGeown (Dedham, MA).

Worcester State answered in the bottom of the fourth taking a 3-2 lead as Kyle Oksanish (S. Grafton, MA) hit a two-run homer.

James Wadsworth (Upton, MA) homered in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game at 3-3, a score which stood until the top of the seventh.

In the seventh, Framingham State exploded for 8 runs on 7 hits with the game-winning blow being dealt my Matt Vaccaro (Shrewsbury, MA) who homered after Brumby led off the inning with a single. That would be all the Rams would need as starter Lee Diamantopoulos (Shrewsbury, MA) closed out the Lancers in the bottom of the seventh for the complete game victory. Diamantopoulos struck out 11 on the day and surrendered just 6 hits to the Lancers.

Worcester State will now host the Falcons of Fitchburg State on Thursday on the first day of the MASCAC postseason double elimination tournament.

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