Baseball Rallies Back With Three Ninth Inning Runs

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications

WORCESTER, Mass.- Salem State scored three times while down to their final out to beat Worcester State 12-10 in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) contest on Friday afternoon at Kevin D. Lyons Baseball Diamond.  The Vikings improved to 16-13, 9-7 while the Lancers dropped to 8-22, 7-9. 

How It Happened

• Salem State did not waste any time taking the lead in the first when Yabdriel Gonzalez (New Haven, Ct.) hit a base hit straight up the middle. Owen Duggan (Billerica, Mass.) stepped up to the plate and added a base hit, scoring Gonzalez from second for the first run of the game.
• Salem State managed to score three different times in the third inning, taking a commanding 4-1 lead. The highlight of the inning was a James Dolan (Rockland, Mass.) double to left field, which delivered an RBI.
• In the bottom of the third inning, the Lancers showed impressive offensive power, scoring eight times. The highlight of the inning was Auger's two-run single, and Tyler Smith's (Leominster, Mass.) bases-clearing double.
• The Vikings managed to score four times in the fourth which, was highlighted by Jake Boucher's (Wallingford, Conn.) two-run single that cut the deficit to one at 9-8.
• Worcester State managed to increase their lead to two runs in the bottom of the fifth with a double towards left center field by Jeremy DeLacruz (Lowell, Mass.). 
• James Dolan then doubled to left center field in front of the warning track that scored Duggan from first to cut the deficit to 10-9. in the sixth.
• After the Lancers quickly recorded the first two outs of the ninth inning. Belgrove and Boucher recorded back-to-back doubles with Boucher tying the game at 10 and Edward Field (Gloucester, Mass.) delivered the go-ahead base hit for an 11-10 lead. The Vikings added one more to seal the deal for a 12-10 victory.

NOTEWORTHY

• Both starting pitchers Craig Barnes (Billerica, Mass.) for Worcester State and  Kyle Banche (Torrington, Conn.) for Salem State  recorded a no-decision while  Nick Bamforth (Stoneham, Mass.)  earned the win pitching an inning in relief. Zachary Scotti  (Warwick, R.I.) recorded the loss pitching 3.1 innings, giving up two earned runs and three hits. Boucher recorded the save pitching a scoreless ninth inning. 
• Duggan, James Dolan, Aidan Lynch (North Andover, Mass.), Connor Dolan and Boucher each recorded a multi-hit game as they combined for 10 hits. For the Lancers the duo of Smith and DeLacruz had multi-hit games and Auger had a three-hit game.
• Smith and Auger proved to be a formidable duo, contributing five of eight run runs in the third.
• During the third and fourth innings the Vikings combined for seven runs.
• Both teams will meet again tomorrow afternoon when the Vikings will return back to The Central Campus Baseball Field for a doubleheader against Worcester State. Game one is scheduled at noon and game two at 2:30.