Courtesy Westfield State Sports Information

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Junior Nick Fluegge (Ware) was 4 for 5 with a homer, double, three RBI and four runs scored, and Corey Abbascia (Shrewsbury) and Corey McDonald (Hudson) cracked key home runs to power Worcester State to a wild 15-14 victory over Westfield State in the winner’s bracket game of the MASCAC baseball tournament, Sunday, May 9.

Worcester State, 30-9-1, advances to the championship game, scheduled for Monday, May 10, at 12:00 at Westfield State College.

The Lancers stopped the Owls’ (29-8) 13-game winning streak in the wild and windy game that saw seven lead changes and 35 hits, including five doubles and four homers.

Westfield took a 3-0 first-inning lead sparked by a two-run single by designated hitter Kevin Lyons (Braintree), the 2010 MASCAC player of the year who increased his school record RBI total to 56 this season. In addition, Lyons now has 114 career RBI, surpassing the former school record of 113 held by Bob Kallstrom (1972-75).

Fluegge smashed a mammoth solo homer to put the Lancers on the board in the second inning, then they took a 4-3 lead with three runs in the third.

Westfield responded with three runs in the home half of the third to regain the lead, 6-4. But Worcester came back with four huge runs in the top of the fifth for an 8-6 lead when Abbascia lined a grand slam homer just over the fence down the left field line.

Westfield scored twice in the home half of the fifth to tie the score, 8-8, but Worcester scored two more runs in the sixth on four walks and a balk.

The Owls took their final lead, 11-10, with a three-run uprising in the sixth, with the key hit a two-run double by Pete Hogan (Brockton).

Worcester took the lead for good by scoring three runs in the seventh, including two on a Fluegge single. McDonald delivered the eventual game-winning hit in the ninth with a two-run homer.

Westfield trailed 15-12 heading into its final at bat. Jeff Ackerman drew a one-out walk and pinch hitter Andrew Medeiros singled up the middle, with Ackerman scoring on a throwing error by the center fielder. Ben Wagner then rapped an RBI single to make it 15-14. But Worcester closer Kevin Hayes (Medford) notched his sixth save by striking out Matt Kelly and Jeff Fields.

Worcester out-hit Westfield, 18-17. McDonald was 2 or 4 with three RBI and T.J. Magnell was 3 for 6.

For Westfield, Hogan was 3 for 4 with two doubles and four RBI and Kelly was 3 for 6. Mike Trachtenberg was 2 for 4 with two RBI.

Bobby DeVito pitched three middle innings of relief for the victory to improve to 6-0.

Bridgewater State 14, Framingham State 7

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Freshman Tyler Dennis (Stoughton) was 4 for 6 for a double, home run and five RBI to power Bridgewater State to a 14-7 victory over Framingham State in a MASCAC baseball tournament semifinal loser’s bracket game on Sunday, May 9.

Bridgewater, the No. 4 seed with an 18-19 record, plays the loser of the Worcester State-Westfield State game later Sunday in the double elimination tournament. Framingham, the No. 2 seed with a 23-17 record, awaits a possible ECAC tournament bid.

The Bears jumped out to a 4-0 second-inning lead with Dennis clearing the bases with a three-run double. Bridgewater took a 7-2 lead with a three-run fourth inning, scoring twice on throwing errors and an RBI single by Tom Couet (East Freetown). Couet was the Bears’ other big run producer, going 3 for 6 with three RBI.

Framingham closed within two runs, 7-5, when Dennis clouted a two-run homer in the sixth inning to make it 9-5.

The Rams responded again when hot-hitting Danny Chaisson (Watertown) smacked a two-run homer in the seventh to make it 9-7. But the Bears scored three runs in the eighth and two in the ninth to pull away.

Leadoff batter Brian Medairos (Brockton) also had an outstanding day at the plate, pacing the Bears’ 20-hit onslaught with five singles in six at bats; he scored four runs.

Chaisson led the Rams’ 10 hit attack with two homers; he was 3 for 5 with four RBI and three runs scored.

Jim Balboni (Townsend) pitched into the seventh for the mound win and upped his record to 7-1. Jonathan Surrette (Lynn) notched the pitching save, allowing no hits in two and two-thirds innings.

Westfield State 3, Bridgewater State 2

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Jeff Ackerman (Beverly) was 3 for 4 with two RBI, including a towering walk off double in the bottom of the ninth inning, to lead Westfield State to a 3-2 victory over Bridgewater State the MASCAC baseball tournament on Sunday evening, May 9.

The victory vaulted Westfield State into the MASCASC championship game against Worcester State; the game is scheduled for Westfield State on Monday, May 10, at 12:00.

Worcester State remains undefeated in the double elimination tournament after outlasting Westfield, 15-14, earlier Sunday. If Westfield defeats Worcester a winner-take-all game between the conference rivals will be played immediately following at approximately 3:30. The MASCAC champ receives an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Westfield enters the championship game with a 30-8 record, its first 30-win season since 1979. Worcester State is 30-9-1.

No. 4 seed Bridgewater, 18-20, took a 1-0 first-inning lead on an RBI groundout by Matt Greenberg (Norwell). The Owls tied the score in the second inning with an unearned run. Pete Grillo (Shrewsbury) reached second on a two-base throwing error by the shortstop and Ackerman ripped an RBI single to center field.

Bridgewater took a 2-1 sixth-inning lead on an RBI single by Mark Claffey (Bellingham). Westfield tied the score in the seventh inning. Pete Hogan (Weymouth) singled and moved to third on another single to center field by Ackerman. Pinch hitter Andrew Medeiros (Acushnet) drove Hogan home with a sacrifice fly.

The Bears threatened to score in the top of the ninth but left runners stranded at first and third.

In Westfield’s last at bat, Jeff Fields (Pittsfield) led off with a sharp single to left field and was sacrificed to second by Hogan.

Ackerman then blasted his towering double to the right-center field gap. Bridgewater center fielder John Garabedian (Mansfield) nearly made a sensational over-the-shoulder catch near the warning track but the ball glanced off his glove, allowing Fields to score the game-winning run.

Both teams’ pitchers went the distance and threw well. Owl junior Aaron Messier (New Bedford) scattered eight hits in raising his record to 6-1. He walked four and struck out nine. Bear junior Brian Guillotte, also from New Bedford, allowed seven hits and no walks; he struck out two.

Ackerman was the only Owl with more than one hit. Freshman Tyler Dennis ((Stoughton) continued his hot hitting, going 3 for 5, while Claffey was 3 for 3 with an RBI.