CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – After trailing for the
first half of the game, the MIT baseball team scored seven
unanswered runs to defeat non-conference opponent Worcester State
College, 7-3, Sunday on Briggs Field. The win boosts the Engineers
to 13-15 on the season, while the Lancers are now 28-10-1.
Worcester State was first on the scoreboard, striking in the
second inning. After an errant pitch put lead-off batter Nick
Fluegge on first, a single by junior Paul Rodriguez added a second
runner. Freshman Shawn Trombley cleared the bases with a single up
the middle, giving the Lancers a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, WSC senior Ryan LaPrade hit a single
into shallow center field to bring home Trombley, who had reached
base on a mishandled bunt, extending the Blue and Gold lead to 3-0.
MIT struggled at the hands of WSC starter Bobby DeVito, who gave
up only 1 hit with 2 strikeouts and 4 walks in 5 innings on the
mound.
In the bottom of the sixth, Worcester State reliever Chris Creen
opened the inning by loading the bases with three consecutive
walks. MIT junior Brian Doyle was first to capitalize, scoring
freshman Ricardo Perez on a fielder's choice before sophomore Zach
Carr brought home two more with a shot to right field, evening the
score at 3-3.
MIT starter Aric Dama (2-2) retired after 7 innings, giving up 3
hits and 3 runs with 3 strikeouts and 1 walk.
The Cardinal and Gray took the lead in the seventh when senior
Stewart Park singled and freshman James McKinney walked to set up a
two-run double by Perez, giving Tech its first lead at 5-3.
Worcester State's Phil Recco (3-1) was on the hook for the
loss, having yielded 2 runs and 1 walk in one inning thrown.
MIT added two insurance runs in the eighth as McKinney and Hyatt
registered RBI hits, giving the Engineers a 7-3 advantage.
Freshman closer Henry Zhu tossed a solid ninth inning for MIT,
notching his fourth save on the year and allowing only 3 hits in 2
scoreless innings pitched.
The Engineers' home-stand continues tomorrow when they
take on the Falcons of NAIA institution Fisher College on Monday,
May 3, at 4 p.m. The Lancers begin the MASCAC Championship
Tournament on Thursday, May 6, facing off against first-round
opponent Framingham State at home.