2009 ECAC DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIP 

#2 Worcester State Ousts #6 Fitchburg State, 9-3

Sauer and Breen tie program marks in final game of the season

WORCESTER, Mass. (May 9, 2009) - The Fitchburg State baseball team suffered a season-ending loss to Worcester State, falling 9-3 in the 2009 ECAC Division III New England semi-final match up this afternoon.

The Falcons opened the scoring in the top of the first when senior Kris Breen (Griswold, Conn./Griswold) drove in classmate Andy Sauer (Willington, Conn./E.O. Smith) who reached first on a single with two outs.

Worcester State responded and tied the score up 1-1 in the bottom of the second when senior Ryan LaPrade (Leominster, MA-SS) hit a run producing single that allowed sophomore Johno Hinkell (North Adams, MA-C) to score from third. The Lancers then took control of the game as their offense scored five times in the bottom of the third. Corey Abbascia (Shrewsbury, MA-CF) and junior Nick Caparell hit back-to-back RBI singles before sophomore Nick Fluegge (Ware, MA-1B) went yard for his 13th homer of the season with a two-run blast.

Caparell and Coakley helped the Blue and Gold open the game up as they each launched homers to center field to help Worcester State go up 9-1 after seven frames.

Junior Mike Borowiec (Spencer, MA-RHP) went the first seven innings allowing one run before he ran into trouble in the eighth inning. Borowiec set down 17 of the 23 batters he faced after the opening frame.

With no outs, sophomore Brian Ware (Beverly, MA-3B) led off the top of the eighth with a single before Sauer belted a two-run homer to make the score 9-3. With the homerun, Sauer tied Fitchburg State's all-time single-season runs scored record with his 42nd run of the season.

The Falcons started to threaten with runners at the corners and no one out before Borowiec was lifted with freshman Kyle St. Thomas (Bridgewater, MA-RHP). St. Thomas promptly ended the inning with a fly-out and a double-play to end the threat and help the Lancers cruise ahead for the victory.

Borowiec (6-1) worked seven innings while allowing three runs and scattering eight hits to earn the victory. Junior Nick Ryan (Lowell, Mass./Lowell) and senior Jake Barbarotta (Pittsfield, Mass./Pittsfield) combined for seven innings for the Falcons as Ryan (2-1) went the games first three frames. They combined to yield nine runs (eight earned) on 13 hits while they walked two and struck out four.

Hinkell, Abbascia, Fluegge and senior Matt Hart (N. Easton, MA-2B) each notched a pair of hits for the Lancers who finished with a game-best 13. Breen tied Fitchburg State's all-time career doubles mark (30) with two doubles in the contest, while Sauer added a pair of hits.

Fitchburg State ends its 2009 campaign at 19-18 while the Lancers post the second 30-win season in their programs history as they are now 30-14.

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