Worcester, MA --- Junior Jeff Bolio (Oxford, MA) registered two hits, three runs and four RBIs – including a three-run homer in the eighth inning – he helped lift top-seeded Worcester State to an 16-5 victory over #4 Westfield State in the MASCAC Baseball Tournament quarterfinals this afternoon at the Kevin Lyons Baseball Diamond.
With the win the Lancers (22-14) advance to the semifinal winner's bracket game against second-seeded Salem State tomorrow afternoon at 1 o'clock.
Fourth-seeded Owls (16-18-1) will try to stay alive in the league playoffs when they take on #3 Framingham State at 10 AM in the first elimination game of the semifinals at 10 AM. Both contests will be played at Worcester State.
Sophomore Dennis Duplessis (Marlboro, MA) also had a strong day at the plate for the Blue and Gold with two hits and a trio of RBIs while freshman Jake Ryan (Whitinsville, MA) went 3-for-4. Duplessis, Ryan and Bolio all touched home three times.
Other standout hitters included sophomore Steve Wallace (Auburn, MA), junior David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA) and classmate Cody Osburn who all chipped with a pair of base-knocks each to pace a 16-hit attack by the hosts.
Sophomore Tyler Adams (W. Barnstable, MA) was the lone multi-hitter for Westfield State as he went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Junior Jeremy Tanguay (Huntington, MA) had two runs driven in for the visitors who tallied eight safeties for the game.
The Owls opened the contests scoring in the top of the first when Adams scampered home on a bad throw by the shortstop after he botched a play in the field.
Worcester State responded in the top of bottom of the third when Duplessis and Ruggiero both manufactured runs with singles to help give the Lancers the 2-1 advantage.
The Blue and Gold tacked on four more runs in the very next inning to put their margin to 6-1. Bolio and Ryan both drove in runners before two more tallies crossed the plate on a misplayed ball by the left fielder.
After both teams traded unearned runs over the next stanza of play, the Lancers took over the commanding 11-2 edge with four scores in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman Adam Barry (Auburn, MA/Holy Name) and Duplessis highlighted the outburst when they each recorded two-RBI singles.
Westfield State though got to junior Ben Libuda (Auburn, MA) on the hill when they strung together three consecutive singles to load the bases. Tanguay delivered a two-run double and sophomore Dan McCormack (Shelton, CT) added a run producing ground out to help the visitor's trail 11-5.
Worcester State though put the game away in the bottom of the eighth when five runs came around to score. Bolio underscored frame with a three-run blast to the deep part of center field for his third dinger of the campaign to tie for the lead in the MASCAC.
Libuda (5-2) gave up five runs (three earned) on eight hits to go along with four strikeouts and one walk over seven strong innings. After giving up the opening run in the top of the first, he settled down and retired 13 of his next 14 batters until he was touched up for another score in the top of the sixth.
Junior Joe Perlak (Chicopee, MA) tossed two hitless frames and he punched out a pair of batters to help preserve the victory for the Lancers.
Third-year Mike Molta (Nantucket, MA) was saddled with the loss for the Owls. Molta (3-3) allowed 10 hits, 11 runs (seven earned) in his six frames of work. He also rung up a trio of batters on strikes and gave up three walks.
The Lancers, who had been defeated by Molta in every contest that he had pitched in over the last three seasons, got the best of the junior this afternoon. The defeats include a MASCAC semifinal setback during the 2013-14 campaign and when Worcseter State was swept at home by the Owls on April 12.