Baseball Ends Season with 8-7, 11-Inning Loss to Worcester

WORCESTER, Mass. -- Freshman Dennis Duplessis (Marlboro, MA) smacked a two-run single down the left field line in the bottom of the eleventh inning to propel fourth-seeded Worcester State past #5 Bridgewater State, 8-7, in the first round of the MASCAC tournament this afternoon at Rockwood Park.

The Lancers (19-20) move on to the double-elimination Quarterfinals tomorrow to take on top-seeded Salem State at 3 PM. The Bears see their 2013 campaign end at 19-14-1.

Knotted 6-6 in the top of the 11th, BSU grabbed the go-ahead score on an RBI single senior Tory Buck (Shelbourne Falls, MA) to score classmate Craig Stewart (Brockton, MA).  Stewart started off the inning with a single through the left, moved to second on a wild pitch and third on a sacrifice bunt. Buck beat out a chopper to the pitcher to help the Bears stake the 7-6 edge.

The Lancers were ignited in the bottom half of the frame when sophomore Cody Osburn (Sacramento, CA) laced a double to the gap in left center with one man down. Third-year Joe Carlier (Rockland, MA) was then hit by a pitch and both runners advanced on a ground-out, to put men at second and third with two outs.

With the game on the line, Duplessis became the hero when he ripped a 3-2 fastball down the left field line plating both runners for the decisive scores.

Both squads scored twice in the first inning for the early 2-2 tie.

Bridgewater State scored first when Buck crossed home plate on a ground-out after he singled with one out. Senior Jose Polanco (Lawrence, MA) then hit an RBI single to center field which plated classmate David Pierce (E. Bridgewater, MA) for the 2-0 advantage.

Worcester State answered in the bottom of the first as second-year David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA) blasted his third round tripper of the year over the left field fence to cut the deficit in half. Two batters later sophomore Rob MacDonald (Waltham, MA) singled to center scoring senior Kurt Sabacinski (Worcester, MA/St. Peter Marian), who reached on an infield single for the equalizer.

The Blue and Gold plated three more runs in the second to jump out to a 5-2 lead. Junior Dan Ubele (Tyngsboro, MA) led off the frame with a single through the right side and came around to score on a Ruggiero solo base-knock before sophomore Steve Wallace (Auburn, MA) scampered home on an error by the shortstop. MacDonald then drove home the final run of the inning with an RBI ground-out.

The Bears came roaring back and tied the contest 5-5 with a trio of scores in the top of the third. Senior Keane Costa (Fairhaven, MA) drove in a pair with a double down the left field line before he came across home with an unearned run on a throwing error by the pitcher.

WSU grabbed the lead again in the bottom of the fourth when Osburn hammered a double to right field plating Sabacinski, who reached on a walk to start the frame for the 6-5 edge.

The seesaw battle continued as Bridgewater State collected the tying run in the top of the fifth for the 6-6 score on a Costa run producing single up the middle.

Senior Alex Teal (Malden, MA) was then lifted in favor of sophomore Ben Libuda (Auburn, MA) who came into the game with runners on second and third as he promptly retired the next 13 batters in order to halt the Bears' offense in its tracks and set-up extra baseball.

Libuda (4-1) earned the decision as he allowed just the one run on two hits with a pair of walks and two strikeouts in seven innings of work out of the bullpen. Libuda was extremely efficient and had great command as he kept the ball down in the zone and registered 17 ground ball outs.

Senior Jake Roderick (Provincetown, MA) was the tough luck loser. Roderick hurled the final two innings of play and gave up two earned runs on two hits with a pair of strikeouts as he relieved third-year Patrick Martin (Rockland, MA).

Martin tossed the first 8 2/3 innings surrendering six runs (five earned) on 14 hits while walking five and fanning five on 141 pitches.

The Lancers out-slugged their opponents 16-10 for the contest as Duplessis, Ruggiero, Ubele, Osburn, Wallance, Sabacinski and senior Nick Gezotis (Westfield, MA) all chipped in with two base-knocks each as each starter registered at least one hit.

Duplessis, MacDonald and Ruggiero both had two runs driven in as Ruggerio and Sabacinski both crossed home plate twice.

Buck ended 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored while Costa had a pair of hits to go along with four runs batted in and he scored once to lead the offense for the Bears.

While there was no shortage in offensive power for the game, the two squads also struggled with men on base as the Lancers left 14 men on (eight in scoring position) and the visitors stranded eight (five in scoring position).