MASCAC SEMIFINALS: Salem State Bows Out of MASCAC Playoffs Against Worcester State

THE BASICS

Salem State, 4 vs. Worcester State, 13

Records: 

Salem State Vikings (21-17)

Worcester State Lancers (21-19)

Location: Bridgewater, Mass. - Alumni Park

Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026

THE LEAD: The No. 2 seed Salem State baseball team saw its season come to an end after falling in Saturday's Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Semifinals elimination game to No. 3 seed Worcester State, 13-4, Saturday morning. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Worcester State's offense started off fast as the Lancers opened a 4-0 lead after three innings. Tad Giardina highlighted the early offense for the Lancers in the second inning when he recorded a two-run RBI single that found a gap in right center, which made it 3-0 at the time.
• In the bottom half of the third, Salem had a chance to cut into the deficit when Antonio Belgrove (Stamford, Conn.) drew a one-out walk that placed runners on first and second after Jack Doyle (Salem, Mass.) led off the inning with a single. Unfortunately, Worcester State's starter Zachary Scotti retired the next two batters, ending Salem's threat.
• In the following inning, Worcester had its largest scoring inning when the Lancers plated three runs and pushed their advantage to seven (7-0). After tacking on two more in the fifth to go up nine (9-0), Salem finally started chipping away and pulled within five (9-4) behind a four-run inning highlighted by a two-run RBI single off the bat of Belgrove that made it 9-2 at the time.
• However, Worcester State pushed its lead back out to nine in the eighth and ninth, scoring a combined four runs in those innings to go up 13-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth. Despite Yabdriel Gonzalez (New Haven, Conn.) reaching on a Lancers error, Worcester State generated a fly out in the next at-bat and secured a 13-4 win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: 

• Belgrove led the Salem offense with two RBIs on the day. He ended the year recording two or more RBIs in three of his last four games.
• Collin Tenney (Woodbridge, Conn.) ended up with the loss after going 2.2 IP while allowing six hits, four runs (three earned), and striking out two.
• Tyler Normandie led the Lancers with four RBIs.
• Scotti ended up with the no-decision for Worcester State after tossing 4.1 IP and giving up five hits, four runs, and striking out three. 
• Tedy Cove earned the win after going 4.2 IP while allowing two hits, no runs, and striking out two.
• Despite the loss, the Vikings have won three of the last four matchups against the Lancers.
• Salem's 21 wins are the most since 2023 (23 wins).