Posted: Apr 25, 2015
Trailblazers Knocked out of Playoff Hunt by Lancers Sweep
The MCLA Trailblazers were eliminated from postseason contention today at the hands of the Worcester State Lancers. The Trailblazers didn't pitch poorly, but several errors in the field and some cold bats hurt contributed to the Lancer sweep.
Game one was crisp early as the game was scoreless heading into the top of the fifth. However, Worcester would plate six runs on just three hits. The Trailblazers (10-16, 3-11) committed three errors in the inning. Jeff Bolio reached on a Ryan Shook error with one out, and Bolio advanced to third on a Mike Powers single to right. Worcester state would then bunt four consecutive times without MCLA being able to record an out. The big blow came when Jake Ryan squared to bunt with the bases loaded; MCLA starter Ryan Grande fielded the bunt cleanly, but threw it high allowing three Lancer runner's to score. Ryan would end up on third and score on a RBI ground out by Adam Barry.
MCLA could only produce three singles off of Worcester State starter Joe Perlak.
Worcester (21-14, 10-4) would tack on four more in the sixth; Ryan was again in the middle of it. His single to center scored Zach George and Dan McGuill.
Perlak moved to 6-1 on the season and Grande fell to 1-4. Perlak went the distance and struck-out five. Grande worked into in the sixth and allowed nine runs, but only one earned.
In game two Worcester State again took advantage of extra opportunities. In the top of the second, David Ruggiero was on second base with one out. MCLA starter Todd Hunt struck-out Bolio on a ball in the dirt, the ball got away from Alon Willing and Bolio reached and Ruggiero moved up to third. With two outs and runners on second and third, Nick Gikas blooped a hit in the hole at shortstop scoring Ruggiero. Bolio would later score, when Gikas got caught in a rundown on a delayed steal. Gikas was eventually tagged out, but not until Bolio would cross the plate.
Worcester State pitcher Zach Zona cruised through the first six, surrendering only one hit. Hunt would tire a bit in the fifth, allowing four runs (three earned) all with two outs to give Worcester a 6-0 lead.
MCLA would rally in the seventh. Tyler Benoit and Ryan Grande had back to back singles with one out. They would move up a base on a Zona wild pitch and would score on Liam Nolan double. Mike Mancivalano would then reach on an infield single and the Trailblazers suddenly had the tying run in the on-deck circle. Willing hit a sharply hit ground ball; however it was right at the shortstop Powers for a tailor-made double play.
Zona picked up the win and moves to 3-3 and Hunt suffered his first loss of the season and is 3-1.
Mancivalano and Grande each had two hits on the afternoon and Benoit reached base three times.
Worcester State will host Umass-Boston tomorrow at 1:00 PM. MCLA will travel to Mass. Maritime tomorrow at 2:00 PM, the game will not be considered a conference game.