(Courtesy of UMass-Boston Sports Information)

WORCESTER, MA – Freshman starting pitcher Mike Andriano (Massapequa, NY) threw seven innings and allowed just two earned runs on five hits, while sophomore left fielder Tom Michael (Manchester, NH) collected two hits and knocked in three runs to lead the University of Massachusetts Boston baseball team over Worcester State College, 11-7, today in a game that was played at H.L. Rocheleau Field on the campus of Assumption College in Worcester, MA.  The Beacons improve to 10-8 on the season, while the Lancers fall to 9-10.

UMass Boston scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning for the cushion it would keep the entire game as Michael got things started with a bases-loaded double to left center field to score two runs and give the Beacons a 2-0 lead.  Senior first baseman Jaime Soto (Peabody, MA) followed with a triple down the right field line to increase the UMB margin to 4-0.  Soto then scored when junior designated hitter Dan Ciocca (Natick, MA) drove a sacrifice fly to right field to make it 5-0.   

Worcester State got a pair of runs back in the top of the third inning when Ryan LaPrade led off with a bunt single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, went to third on a Tom Huddleston ground out and scored when Billy Manley reached first on a throwing error by the Beacons’ third baseman.  Nate Nelson later singled and later scored on a two-out single by Chris Gusha to cut the deficit to 5-2. 

UMass Boston got a run in the fourth and then another in the fifth on a Michael RBI single to left field and added three more in the sixth, highlighted by a run-scoring single to center field from senior center fielder Bob Kniffen (Halifax, MA) to take a 10-1 advantage.  The Beacons looked to be in control as Andriano exited the contest after seven full innings, but the Lancers made some noise in the eighth, scoring three times, thanks to a run-producing single to right field by Kirk Monbleau and a two-run single to left field by Ryan Hawley  to pull them to within 10-5. 

UMass Boston got a run back in the bottom of the eighth on a solo home run to center by Kniffen to give it an 11-5 lead, but Worcester State rallied for two more runs in the ninth inning when Jonathan Pena stroked a leadoff pinch-hit double to left field and came around to score on a single down the right field line by Nick Caparell.  Manley followed with a single through the right side and Nelson was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs, but the Beacons turned a double play with a run scoring on the play to take the air out of the rally as they held on for the victory.

Andriano improves to 4-1 on the season for UMass Boston and allowed two walks, while striking out six, including five on called strikes.  Joel Brierley was charged with the loss for the Lancers, pitching just the first inning and allowing five runs (three earned) on three hits and two walks. 

Ciocca finished the day going 3-3 with an RBI and a run scored for the Beacons, while Soto and freshman catcher Joseph Priscella (Quincy, MA) each collected a pair of hits on the day with Soto also knocking home a pair.  Senior right fielder Sean Ketterer (Plymouth, MA) reached on an infield single in the sixth inning to extend his team-long hitting streak to 11 games.

Nelson and Gusha each registered two hits on the day to lead Worcester State with each scoring a run and Gusha driving one in.

UMass Boston will be in action again on Thursday, April 12 when it travels to Milton, MA to take on Curry College at 3:30 p.m., while the Lancers host nationally ranked Wheaton College on April 12 at 3:30 p.m. at H.L. Rocheleau Field.