BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott baseball team played its first game on the newly renovated North Field against non-conference rival Worcester State on Tuesday afternoon, but the Lancers spoiled Endicott's home opener by scoring three runs in the top of the ninth inning to break a 1-1 tie en route to a 4-1 victory.
Endicott (5-4, 0-0 CCC) got 8 1/3 innings of one run baseball out of pitcher Mike Nich (Orange, Conn.) before Worcester conducted a three-run rally that was highlighted by a two-RBI double by freshman Joe Kasper (Lynn, Mass.) that scored sophomore Rob MacDonald (Waltham, Mass.) and junior Joe Carlier (Rockland, Mass.) followed by a bases loaded walk from freshman Dennis Duplessis (Marlboro, Mass.) that forced in another run.
Nich ended up going 8 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five as he dropped to 1-1 on the season.
Worcester State (5-7, 0-0 MASCAC) used three different pitchers to complete the game but it was senior hurler Alex Teal (Malden, Mass.) who earned the win by going the final three innings without allowing a run while striking out six. Teal improved to 2-2 on the season. Also pitching in this game for the Lancers was starter Nick Bonofiglio (Worcester, Mass.) and Cody Osburn (Fair Oaks, Calif.) as the trio combined to hold Endicott to seven hits, three walks, and one earned run.
The Blue and Green got their lone run in the bottom of the second on a two-out Robert Goldstick (Deerfield, Ill.) RBI single to right field that drove home senior Ralph Fidaleo (Fairfield, Conn.). Fidaleo had led off the inning with a walk before stealing second base to get into scoring position. It was Fidaleo's second swipe of the season and Goldstick's fourth RBI.
Worcester State evened the scoreboard at 1-1 in the top of the fifth on a Zach George (Attleboro, Mass.) double to left that plated MacDonald from second base.
Endicott appeared to have opportunity to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth after outfielder Colin Sitarz (West Hartford, Conn.) tripled to lead off the inning but on a groundout by the next batter, Sitarz was caught in a rundown which ended the Gulls threat.
Endicott sophomore second baseman Harry Oringer (Dartmouth, Mass.) went 2-for-4 at the dish while Sitarz, along with Cody Hall (Rutland, Mass.), recorded the only extra base hits for the Gulls with a triple and double, respectively. Fidaleo, Tad Gold (Martha's Vineyard, Mass.), and Conor Ressel (Rockport, Mass.) each recorded a stolen base.
There were no two-hit performances by the Lancers but Kasper's two RBIs and MacDonald's two runs scored paced Worcester State offensively.
Endicott returns to the diamond tomorrow afternoon when they take on the #1 ranked team in the region, according to the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association, Saint Joseph's College of Maine. First pitch is at 3:30 pm at North Field. Worcester State returns home on Thursday, March 28th as they take on UMass Boston at 3:30 pm.
