Baseball Drop MASCAC Opener to Worcester State, 5-2

WORCESTER, Mass. – The MCLA Baseball team played their first MASCAC regular season game of the year this afternoon when they traveled to Rockwood Park and Worcester State for a matinee with the Lancers. Worcester's Craig Barnes and two relievers combined to limit the Trailblazers to five hits en route to a 5-2 victory.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Thursday, March 27, 2025
• Score: MCLA 2, Worcester State 5
• Records: MCLA Trailblazers 2-10 (MASCAC 0-1) | Worcester State University Lancers 9-4 (MASCAC 1-0)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• MCLA scratched the first run of the game in the top of the second inning, combining a double to center field by junior third baseman Chris Vargas (Queens Village, NY), a passed ball, and a groundout to shortstop by sophomore outfielder TJ Platt (Amsterdam, NY) for the early lead.
• The Lancers responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the same inning, scoring both with only three hits and the benefit of an error.
• A sacrifice fly by Tyler Normandie in the bottom of the fifth inning extended the Worcester State lead to 3-1.
• The Trailblazers got that run back in the top of the sixth inning. Freshman shortstop Roshan Warriar (Pittsfield, MA) led the frame off with a single down the left field line and then, two batters later, stole second. Senior designated hitter Matthew Castillo (Ozone Park, NY) worked a walk before sophomore outfielder Joe Sardo (Great Neck, NY) plated Warriar to cut the lead to 3-2.
• That would be as close as the Trailblazers would get. In the bottom of the inning, Worcester State added two insurance runs on a single by Mason Bates, a triple by Xavier Quezada that scored Bates, and a single by Xavier Quezada to bring Quezada home.
• Nolan Turner and Matthew Direnzo then closed out the final three innings for the Lancers, allowing only one hit with Direnzo picking up his first save of the season.
• Craig Barnes (1-0) went the first six innings for Worcester State, scattering four hits and allowing only two runs and striking out eight to pick up his first win of the year. Senior starting pitcher Aidan Brett (Seymour, CT) suffered the tough luck loss for MCLA, going six and a third and striking out but falling to 0-3.

UP NEXT:

On Friday, MCLA will be back in action when it plays host to Worcester State at Bobby Coombs Field on the campus of Williams College for a MASCAC doubleheader with the Lancers. The first pitch is scheduled for noon.

STAY CONNECTED:

For the latest on MCLA Athletics, follow the Trailblazers via our social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram, or X (formerly Twitter).