#5 Salem State Rallies Past #4 Worcester State

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Jake Boucher's (Wallingford, Conn.) one-out sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth, brought home the game-winning run as fifth seeded Salem State rallied over the final two innings for a 3-2 victory over fourth seeded Worcester State in the opening round of the 2022 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Baseball Tournament on Thursday at Bridgewater State's Alumni Park. Boucher came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and struckout the side as the Vikings (22-17) advance to take on top-seed and tournament host Bridgewater State this afternoon at three o'clock. The Lancers end the season with an overall record of 19-19.

The game was scoreless through the first 5 1/2 innings. The Lancers put runners on the corners in the home half of the sixth with one out on a base hit, stolen base, wild pitch and a walk. Salem looked as though they would get out of the inning unscathed as a runner was thrown out at home on an attempted double steal. Junior designated hitter Alex Sorrenti-Burns (Sagamore Beach, Mass.), however, followed with a clutch two-out RBI single to left to give Worcester the 1-0 advantage.

The Lancers tacked on a run in the seventh to extend the led to 2-0. Wright reached on a two-out throwing error, stole second and scored on an RBI single to center by junior shortstop Chris Ausiello (Tyngsboro, Mass.). 

The Vikings pushed across a pair of unearned runs in the top of the eighth to knot the game at 2-2. Senior designated hitter Traverse Briana (Peabody, Mass.) reached on an error and senior first baseman Zach Piroh (Stratford, Conn.) followed with a double to deep right-center to put runners on second and third with one out. Senior left fielder Tim Catalano (Brewster, N.Y.) plated Briana with a sacrifice fly and sophomore catcher Edward Field (Gloucester, Mass.) tied the game with an RBI single to right.

Salem State loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the ninth on three straight singles, two of which didn't leave the infield. After an out, sophomore second baseman Boucher lofted a sacrifice fly to right to plate the go ahead run.

Sophomore righthander Kyle Banche (Torrington, Conn.) picked up the win in relief for the Vikings as he tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning including a pair of strikeouts. Sophomore righty Jack Sefrino (Dartmouth, Mass.) worked the first seven innings for Salem allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

Senior righthander Joey Zawisza (Newington, Conn.) pitched into the eighth inning for Worcester State and did not factor in the decision. Zawisza gave up two unearned runs on nine hits with no walks and ten strikeouts. Sophomore righty Danny DiMassimo (Pittsfield, Mass.) was tagged with the loss in relief for the Lancers. DiMassimo (2-2) allowed one run on four hits over an inning and a third with a strikeout.

Sophomore Centerfielder Wilbur Rosario Morel (Lynn, Mass.) went 3-for-3 with a stolen base to pace Salem's 13-hit attack. Freshman right fielder Bobby Jellison (Salem, Mass.) singled twice in four at bats and scored a run, while Brianna (2-5, R) and Piroh (2-4, 2B) also notched two hits apiece for the Vikings.