AUBURNDALE, Fla. - Behind a solid performance by junior Cruz Rosado (Clinton, MA/Worcester Tech), Worcester State defeated Curry, 2-1, before the Lancers fell 6-1 in the nightcap as sophomore Sam Barron (Florence, MA) went 3-for-3 with three runs scored for the Colonels. With the split both team’s records are now 3-3 on the season.

GAME ONE
Box Score

Rosado (1-0) cruised through his first start of the year as he fanned seven over 6 1/3 innings of work – yielding just two hits through his first six frames. Rosado also walked three and plunked a trio of batters and let one unearned run cross the plate.

First-year Matt O’Neill (Milton, MA) was handed the setback in his collegiate debut for Curry as he pitched five solid innings allowing two unearned runs to go along with three hits, three walks and one punch-out.

The contest was a pitchers’ duel until Worcester State pushed across two runs in the top of the fifth. With two outs, sophomore Chris Creen (Worcester, MA/St. John’s) and senior Corey McDonald (Hudson, MA) got on with infield singles. Fourth-year Nick Fluegge (Ware, MA) was issued a free pass to load the bases and then the Colonels committed two errors in the infield to allow Creen and McDonald to score.

Rosado walked a pair with one out in the top of the seventh. After sophomore Shayne McDonald (Cambridge, MA) and classmate Matt Rodriguez (Quincy, MA) executed a double steal, Curry broke up the shutout when McDonald scored on a wild throw from the catcher. With Rodriguez on third representing the tying run, sophomore Shaun Slattery (Gardner, MA) then came into the game and fanned the final two batters to nail down his second save of the season.

Neither team had any multi-hitters in the opening contest as WSU had a 5-2 edge in base hits. Junior Joe Eramo (Shirley, MA) had the only extra-base hit for a double in the top of the sixth.

GAME TWO
Box Score

In the second game, Curry plated three runs in the top of the first, highlighted by a two-run single by junior Matt Drew (Waltham, MA), and by senior Sean Jackman (Stoughton, MA), who came home on a failed pick-off bid by the catcher.

Worcester State chipped into the lead with an unearned run in the bottom of the second on a run- producing double by Creen. But the Colonels would get a run back in the top of the third and made the score 4-1 on an RBI single by McDonald. McDonald drove in Barron, who reached on a walk and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch.

Curry added on to its advantage with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth on consecutive base-knocks by Barron and Matt Rodriguez.

The Lancers would have a frustrating afternoon at the plate as they stranded eight on base including six in scoring position.

After Worcester threatened to score with runners on first and second in the bottom of the fifth, Colonels’ reliever Zach Walker (Hingham, MA) set down the last seven batters that he would see to end the game. Walker would notch a three-inning save for Curry.

Freshman Kyle Connors (Stoughton, MA) went four innings for his first win of the 2011 campaign for the Colonels. Connors would finish allowing three hits, one unearned run, four walks and four strikeouts. Walker would tally two punch-outs and allow one walk.

Rookie Michael Goulden (Rehoboth, MA) went 2 1/3 innings in his first career start. Goulden yielded three runs on four hits with five walks and one strikeout. Junior Joseph Piscitelli (Oxford, MA) hurled 2 2/3 scoreless innings after he came into the contest with runners on second and third.

In addition to Barron’s performance in the nightcap, Drew registered two hits and two plated runs as Jackman crossed the plate twice for the Colonels. The Lancers were limited to four hits in game two.

Worcester State will take on Roger Williams on Thursday in a double-header starting at 3 PM at Lake Myrtle Field #1 in Auburndale. Curry plays FDU-Florham at 1 o’clock tomorrow at Chain of Lakes Field #1 in Winter Haven. (Game recaps courtesy of Worcester State Sports Information)