Vikings Sweep Lancers

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications

SALEM, Mass.- Brock Pare (Lowell, Mass.) and Cam Fisher (Burlington, Conn.) combined for 11.1 innings and gave up one earned run, giving Salem State a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader sweep over Worcester State by scores of 2-1 and 6-1 on Saturday. The Vikings improve to 8-13, 11-7 while the Lancers drop to 8-24, 7-11. 

Game One

• The game remained scoreless until the fourth inning. Worcester State led off the inning with two consecutive singles. Later, Aaron Siegel (Abington, Mass.) reached base due to an error, which ultimately led to the first run of the game being scored. 
• In the bottom half of the inning, Yabdriel Gonzalez (North Haven, Conn.) was at second base while James Dolan was at first. Antonio Belgrove (Stamford, Conn.) delivered a ground run double to left field  that brought Gonzalez home and tied the score at one run apiece. 
• The score remained tied until the sixth when Mark Smith (East Haven, Conn.) reached first base on an error. A couple of batters later, James Dolan (Rockland, Mass.) hit an RBI base hit that ultimately gave the Vikings a 2-1 lead which proved to be the final score of the game.  

Game Two

• Salem State found themselves in a promising position with the bases loaded and only one out in the first. The Vikings took advantage of this opportunity and scored two runs First, Belgrove hit a sac fly that scored Smith from first. Then, Jake Boucher (Wallingford, Conn.) delivered a base hit to left field, which brought in another run and extended the Vikings' lead to 2-0.  
• In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Lancers recorded the first two outs with ease. However, Aidan Lynch (North Andover, Mass.) and Smith reached base and advanced on a passed ball. Gonzalez hit a double down the right field line that scored two runs and helped to extend the Vikings lead to 4-0.
• In the top of the sixth inning, Frankie Hernandez (Framingham, Mass.) hit a triple to the right center field gap. This was followed by a solid single to second base by Tom Halliwell (Leominster, Mass.), which allowed the first Lancers' run to be scored, thus reducing the lead to 4-1. However, Salem State in the bottom of the inning scored two runs of their own. This was achieved through a well-executed single to right field by Gonzalez, and a sac fly by James Dolan (Rockland, Mass.), which brought the score to 6-1 in favor of Salem State.

NOTEWORTHY

• Pare recorded the win pitching a brilliant six innings giving up seven hits and striking out six Lancers' hitters. Ben Smith (Bourne, Mass.) recorded the loss, pitching six innings giving up three hits and an earned run while striking out seven batters. 
• Nathan Thurber (Framingham, Mass.) had a three-hit game in game one while Ryan Jewett (Nantucket, Mass.) had two hits. The duo combined for 5 for 8 in the first game.
• Ben Smith retired the first 10 Vikings' hitter in order to start the game.  
• Pare got himself out of trouble in the fifth when the Lancers had the bases loaded and one out and he managed to strike out Hernandez swinging and Joe Auger (Lowell, Mass.) looking to limit the damage.
• In game two, Fisher maintained a perfect record improving to 5-0 on the season after pitching 5.1 innings and allowing a run. Jarret Morrill (Chelmsford, Mass.) recorded the loss allowing five hits and three earned runs.
• Smith stole two bases in the sixth and he is now 25 of 27 in stolen base opportunities. 
• For the Lancers, Halliwell and Tyler Smith (Leominster, Mass.) combined for 5 for 7 and an RBI in game two. 
• The Vikings will travel to North Adams on May 3 to take on the MCLA Trailblazers for a MASCAC contest. First pitch is scheduled at 3:00 p.m.