MASCAC QUARTERFINALS: Salem Erupts For 20-Runs in 20-10 Win vs. Worcester State

THE BASICS

Salem State, 20 vs. Worcester State, 10 (7 inn.)

Records: 

Salem State Vikings (21-15, 16-8 MASCAC)

Worcester State Lancers (19-19, 16-8 MASCAC)

Location: Salem, Mass. - Central Campus Field

Date: Thursday, May 7, 2026

THE LEAD: The No. 2 seed Salem State baseball team kicked off the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) playoffs with a 20-10 win over No. 3 seed Worcester State on Thursday afternoon at Central Campus Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After Worcester grabbed two quick runs in the top half of the first, the Salem offense erupted for an 11-run inning and had an 11-2 lead after one. Ethan Stepputtis (Prospect, Conn.) highlighted the high-scoring inning with a three-run RBI double to deep right center that made it 11-2. 
• Salem struck again in the third with RBIs off the bats of Lucas Rincon (Revere, Mass.) and Aidan Lynch (North Andover, Mass.) that pushed the Vikings' lead to 11 (13-2). Worcester ended up getting one run back in the fourth after a sacrifice fly from Tad Giardina made it 13-3. However, Salem responded in the bottom of the fourth with two more RBIs courtesy of Yabdriel Gonzalez (New Haven, Conn.) and Nolan Currier (Maynard, Mass.), and gave the Blue and Orange its largest lead (15-3).
• Worcester would not go quietly as the visitors grabbed three runs in the fifth, highlighted by a two-run RBI triple from Mason Bates that trimmed its deficit to single digits (15-6). In the bottom half of the inning, Antonio Belgrove (Stamford, Conn.) pushed the Vikings' lead back to double-digits (18-6) thanks to a three-run homer that went over the fence in right field.
• Even with the large deficit, the Lancers continued to show resilience and pulled within eight (18-10) behind a four-run sixth that featured a two-run RBI single from Alan Carpenter that made it 18-9 at the time. Despite the Lancers threatening, Salem answered back in the bottom half of the inning with two more runs and took back its double-digit lead (20-10).
• In the final inning, despite a lead-off single for the Lancers, Salem pitcher Alex Metznik (Westford, Mass.) retired the next batter by forcing a lineout, and thanks to smart fielding from Owen Duggan (Billerica, Mass.), he tagged out the runner at first to get two quick outs. Metznik would then generate a groundout, securing a 20-10 win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: 

• The Vikings had three batters record three or more RBIs on the day. Stepputtis led the way with a career-high six RBIs, which is tied for fourth most in single-game program history. The other two Salem hitters were Belgrove and Rincon with four and three, respectively.
• Salem starter Matt Walling (Plantsville, Conn.) earned the win for the Vikings after going 5.0 IP while allowing 11 hits and six runs.
• Carpenter led the Lancers' offense with three RBIs.
• Worcester starter Jack Hildred ended up with the loss after going 0.2 IP and allowing seven hits, nine runs, and striking out one.
• Thursday's 20-runs marked a new season-high. It's Salem's first 20-run game since 2023 (March 15, vs. UMaine Presque Isle).
• The 20-runs scored are tied for the fifth most in a single game in program history.
• Salem has won its last five MASCAC playoff openers. Three of those wins came against Worcester State.
• The Vikings have won the last three matchups against the Lancers. 

UP NEXT:

No. 2 seed Salem State heads to No. 1 seed Bridgewater State for a semifinal matchup in the winner's bracket on Friday, May 8, at 3:00 p.m.