BUZZARDS BAY, Mass -- The Buccaneers hosted Worcester State in the opener of a three-game conference series on Friday afternoon at Hendy Field. With both teams entering the series at 9-9 in conference play both teams can decide their own destiny with a series win The Bucs got a head start winning the first game by a final of 4-3 in comeback fashion over the Lancers in their final home game of the 2023 regular season.

The Basics

Final: Buccaneers 4, Lancers 3

Records: Maritime (20-16, 10-9)

               Worcester (15-21, 9-10)

On The Mound

Maritime: Michael Logiudice (W, 2-0): 1 IP | 0 H | 0 R | 0 BB | 0 K

                Brenden Baiardi (Sv, 6): 1 IP | 0 H | 0 R | 0 BB | 3 K

                Sam Huffman: 5 IP | 4 H | 3 R | 3 ER | 5 BB | 5 K

Worcester: Ben Smith (L, 1-5): 2 IP | 1 H | 2 R | 2 ER | 3 BB | 1 K

                   Cole Glassburn: 6 IP | 4 H | 2 R | 2 ER | 3 BB | 2 K

At The Plate

Maritime

• John Tropea, Aidan Henderson, Frank Aten, Chris Perito, and Bill Gorry all had a hit for the Bucs.
• Tropea's hit was a double, the only extra base hit in the game
• Gorry Drove in two runs, Hunter Dean and Perito both drove in one.
• Michael Logiudice, Henderson, Michael Estrada, and Aten scored the four Buccaneer runs.

Worcester

• Zack Roberts led the way with two hits for the Lancers. Tom Halliwell and Sean Devin each recorded one hit.
• Devin drove in two runs, Chris Ausiello drove in two.
• Halliwell, Tyler Smith, and Anthony Iamarone each scored in the game.
• Ausiello, Devin, and Roberts all stole a base in the loss.

How It Happened

The Lancers put up three runs in the top of the first inning making it look like the game would be high scoring. Ausiello walked with the bases loaded to bring in one and Devin singled to center field to bring in two. Huffman settled down on the mound and got out of the inning allowing the three runs.

The buccaneers cut the Lancer lead two one run with two runs of their own in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded, Dean reached on a fielder's choice and Estrada came in to score. Perito followed that up with a singled through the left side plating Logiudice to make the score 3-2 Worcester through two innings.

As the pitching for both sides settled in, neither offense could bring a run home. With a plethora of double plays and outstanding defensive plays the game remained 3-2 Lancers until the eighth inning.

Liam Howell and Nick Iannone came in on the mound for the Bucs and recorded 1-2-3 innings to keep the score where it was after five innings from Huffman. Logiudice came in to pitch from second base in the eighth and also held the Lancers at bay going to the bottom of the frame. In the bottom of the eighth with the bases loaded, Gorry came in to pinch hit against Smith and delivered. Hitting a single to left, Henderson and Logiudice came in to score to put the Bucs ahead 4-3. 

Baiardi came in in the top of the ninth and struck out the side to secure the 4-3 comeback win for the Buccaneers in the opening game of the series.

What's Next

The Buccaneers are in Worcester tomorrow for a conference doubleheader with the Lancers beginning at 12pm.