Vikings Hold Off Late Lancers' Rally

WORCESTER, Mass. – Juan Hurtado (Homestead, Fla.) pitched  six innings of four-hit ball, allowing just one unearned, and Salem State held off a late Worcestet State rally to win the final game of their three-game Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) series, 7-6 on Monday afternoon at Lyons Diamond. The Vikings (10-7, 2-1 MASCAC) had split their doubleheader with the Lancers (7-9, 1-2 MASCAC) over the weekend.

The Vikings had 12 hits in the game, including multi-hit days by Jake Boucher (Wallingford, Conn.), Zach Piroh (Stratford, Conn.), Edward Field (Gloucester, Mass.), Bobby Jellison (Salem, Mass.) and Tim Catalano (Brewster, N.Y.). Anthony Iamarone (Providence, R.I.) and first baseman Sean Devin (Lynn, Mass.) each had three hits for the Lancers, with Iamarone driving in a pair of runs on a single to left field with two outs during the ninth inning rally.

Salem State took the lead with two runs in the top of the first and added another in the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Derek Angell (Whitinsville, Mass.). 

Devin scored on a balk in the bottom of the fifth to get Worcester on the scoreboard, but Catalano doubled home Field, and Christian Burt (Lynn, Mass.) stole home as part of a two-run top of the sixth for the Vikings.

Field and Jellison added RBI hits in a four-hit, two-run top of the seventh and the Vikings led 7-1.

After a Chris Wright (Jefferson, Mass.) sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh, the Lancers came up to bat in the ninth down by five and immediately loaded the bases with two singles and an error. Wright drove home another run with a sacrifice fly, and Tom Halliwell (Leominster, Mass.) picked up an RBI on a deep foul ball that went for a sacrifice as well.

Iamarone plated two with a single to left field, but with two outs, the Vikings turned to Greg Gentle (Arlington, Mass.), who induced a fly ball to center field to end the game and earn his first save of the year.

Cole Glassburn (Hopkinton, Mass.) takes the loss (2-2) with six innings of work, allowing three earned runs. Glassburn struck out four and the Lancers didn't walk a batter on the day. Danny DiMassimo (Pittsfield, Mass.) threw a perfect two innings of relief.

(Contributions from Worcester State Sports Information)