WORCESTER STATE ELIMINATED FROM NCAA DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIP

HARWICH, MA, May 16, 2008 - The Worcester State College baseball season came to an end Friday morning at Whitehouse Field in Harwich, MA as they fell to the Golden Bears of Western New England College by the final score of 8-3 in the NCAA Division III New England Regional baseball tournament.  The Lancers finish the season with a 24-18 record.  WNEC advances face the winner of the Keene State/Southern Maine game which begins play at 1:00 pm.

WNEC opened up the scoring in the top of the first inning.  With one out, second baseman Justin Walz (Groton, CT) walked and came all the way around when senior Travis Schwamb (West Springfield, MA) laced a double into the left-centerfield gap to give the Golden Bears a, 1-0, lead.  After a fly out, shortstop Ryan Kravontka (Glastonbury, CT) hit a flare single to shallow centerfield to score Schwamb who was running on contact giving WNEC a, 2-0, lead after the first half inning.

In the top of the fourth, leftfielder Mike Beck (Whitesboro, NY) and Tony Trubia (Tolland, CT) hit back to back singles.  They were moved over by a well executed sacrifice bunt by catcher Jon Dominik (West Springfield, MA).  The Golden Bears capitalized on a 2 RBI single by right fielder Steve Kearney (Glastonbury, CT) to give WNEC a, 4-0, lead.

WNEC starter Bryan Calzone (Bethel, CT) no hit the Lancers through the first three innings before the Worcester State bats awoke in the bottom of the fourth.  Senior Ryan Hawley (Shrewsbury, MA) broke up the no hitter with a flare to left field followed by a single through the left side by senior Chris Gusha (Rutland, MA).  A wild pitch by Calzone went to the backstop moving the runner's up and when the catcher couldn't locate the ball Hawley came across to score and Gusha moved up to third base making the score, 4-1.  Chris Logan (Spencer, MA) drove Gusha home with a sacrifice fly to left field cutting the Lancer deficit to, 4-2.

Worcester State starter Pat Good (Hull, MA) gave way to Andy Cunningham (Leicester, MA) after going 4 innings giving up 9 hits and 4 runs.

In the bottom of the fifth, Corey Abbascia (Shrewsbury, MA) got aboard on a slow roller to shortstop.  Abbascia advanced to second on a ground out by Ryan Raleigh (Cranston, RI).  Ryan LaPrade (Leominster, MA) followed with an RBI single to center field scoring Abbascia with Worcester State's third run of the day.

WNEC increased their lead to, 6-3, when Dominick connected on a 3-2 pitch sending it over the left field fence for a two run homerun plating Trubia who led off the inning with a walk.  Kearney and Chris Newell (Wallingford, CT) hit back to back singles to drive Cunningham from the game.  After freshman Bobby DeVito (Webster, MA) retired the first batter he faced via the strikeout, Schwamb was hit by a pitch loading the bases.  Designated hitter Joe Griglun (Southington, CT) gave WNEC an, 8-3, lead with a 2 RBI single through the left side.

Calzone was outstanding in earning his 7^th win of the year.  The left-hander went the distance scattering 8 hits and striking out 6.  DeVito went a strong 4.2 innings in relief as he went 3.2 innings giving up just a pair of hits.