Worcester State College
Baseball Game Recap
April
21, 2008
Trailblazers
and Lancers Split Patriots' Day Pair
(Courtesy MCLA Sports
Information)
North Adams - The MCLA Trailblazers and Worcester State Lancers
split a pair on Monday, but both teams must be thinking they let one
get away. The Blazers took game one 9-4 behind Cyrus Curtis (Bourne,
MA) strong effort.
The Blazers did bang out 10 hits, but the Lancers committed 5 errors
leading to 5 unearned runs. Two errors by Lancer outfielders allowed
MCLA to take extra bases early, as they put up 6 runs in the 1st 2
innings. The Lancers were still within striking distance down 6-2
when a Ryan Raleigh (Cranston, RI) two out, nobody on error, led to
3 more unearned runs and put the game out of reach. The Blazers got
good efforts from Anthony Bruno (Queens, NY), Cory Burtman (Norwood,
MA) and Anthony Russo (Marcy, NY) at the plate; Bruno was 3-4
including a double and Home Run (1st inning), 3 runs scored and 4
RBI. Burtman was 3-4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI while Russo was 2-4
with a run scored. Curtis pitched 7 innings, allowing 7 hits and 4
runs (2 earned); he struck out 6. Worcester State's Pat Good (Hull,
MA) took the loss, he also went the distance; pitching 6 innings,
surrendering 10 hits and 4 earned. He struck out 2. Raleigh and
Chris Logan (Spencer, MA) both had 2 hits and an RBI in a losing
cause.
In Game 2 it was MCLA mistakes that allowed the Lancers to keep it
close early, before breaking it open. Worcester swung the bat from
the opening inning as they pounded out 14 hits, including 8
extra-base hits. Worcester took a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st on
hits by Matt Hart (Easton, MA), Ryan Hawley (Shrewsbury, MA) and
Nate Nelson (Worcester, MA). However, it was what MCLA didn't do in
the first two innings that may have cost them the game. The Blazers
came back and scored 3 in the bottom of the 1st and had Lancer
starter Bob DeVito (Webster, MA) on the ropes, banging out 6 hits
and reaching on a HBP, but MCLA had 3 runners thrown out on the
bases, including 2 pick offs at 2nd base and a runner thrown out at
the plate. In the 1st with 2 runs already in Anthony Bruno was
picked off 2nd with nobody out. Later in the inning with Burtman on
2nd and Pat Negrini (West Stockbridge, MA) on 1st and just 1 out,
both tried to advance on a wild pitch, the throw went to 3rd and
sailed into left field, Burtman raced home and the throw to the
plate got away, and Negrini tried to score as well, but DeVito was
backing up and easily threw to Logan to get Negrini. Joe
Parillo (West Springfield, MA) flied out to end the inning. In the
2nd with it still 3-2 MCLA, Tim Burns (Pittsfield, MA) led off with
a double, but one out later he too was picked off 2nd. DeVito
settled down and appeared to get stronger as the day went on. The
Lancers knowing they dodged a bullet, took advantage scoring 2 in
the 3rd and 2 more in the 4th. The Lancers had runners on in every
inning but the 5th and Trailblazers James Greeley (Newton, MA)
battled, but was in jams all afternoon. Hart was 3-5 with a Home Run
and 3 runs scored. Nelson was 2-3 with a couple of RBI and had 2
doubles and Chris Gusha (Rutland, MA) crushed a homer to dead
center. DeVito got the win, going 6 innings, allowing 8 hits and 2
earned runs, while striking out 3. Greeley took the loss going 5 and
a third, allowing 12 hits and 6 earned runs. Jon Ripepi (Amsterdam,
NY) had 2 hits and a walk, and Bruno had 2 more hits in the 2nd
game.
Worcester State is 15-16 and 7-5 in the MASCAC, the Trailblazers
move to 12-12 and 6-4 in the conference. MCLA next host RPI on
Wednesday and Worcester hosts Rhode Island College, also on
Wednesday.
#####