Babson Cruises Past Wentworth, 15-6

(Courtesy of Babson Sports Information)

BABSON PARK, Mass. – The Babson College baseball team defeated visiting Wentworth Institute of Technology, 15-6, in a non-conference matchup at Govoni Field on Monday afternoon. With the win, the Beavers improve to 19-11, while Wentworth dips to 20-11. 

Babson was led by senior captain Dave Ahern (Bedford, Mass.), who went 4-for-5 with a double, four runs scored, and two RBIs. Sophomore righthander Jeff Burress (Cumberland, R.I.) got the win after pitching five innings, allowing three runs –  all of which were unearned – and striking out two.

The Beavers got the scoring going with a five-run second inning. Ahern and sophomore Billy Miller (Sagamore Beach, Mass.) recorded back-to-back singles and scored on an errant throw on an attempted sacrifice bunt that sent sophomore Sean Cleary (Milton, Mass.) to third. Senior designated hitter Brian Scanlon (Lawrenceville, N.J.) then singled to the shortstop and was followed by a single from third baseman Jake Bartlett (Weymouth, Mass.) that plated Cleary. After a sac bunt by first-year Pat Matvichuk (Middleton, Mass.), Scanlon scored from third on a wild pitch and senior Peter O'Toole (Salem, Mass.) brought home the final run of the inning when he drove in Bartlett with a single to left.

Ahern once again got the hitting going in the third when he singled to left field and stole second base. Miller was hit by a pitch and Cleary singled to load the bases, and a sacrifice fly by Scanlon brought in Ahern. Bartlett followed with another hit to drive in Miller to give Babson a 7-0 lead entering the fourth.

Wentworth scored its first run of the game in the top of the fourth when junior Jake McManus (Hopkinton, N.H.) reached on an error, took second on a single by junior Ben Danker (Branford, Conn.), moved to third on first-year Ryan Delgado' (Wareham Mass.) fielder's choice, and scored on another fielder's choice off the bat of senior Anthony Carbone (Goshen, Conn.).

Babson sophomore Travis Jonasson (Needham, Mass.) pushed the Beavers' lead back to seven runs in the fourth, as he belted his second home run of the season over the wall in right-center to make it 8-1.

Wentworth was able to score two more runs in the fifth, beginning with a single to shortstop by sophomore Conner Flisnik (Marcy, N.Y.). Senior Pete Oggeri (Sandy Hook, Conn.) also reached on a single to the short to move Flisnik to second base, and back-to-back of errors allowed Flisnick to score. Wentworth's second run of the inning came when scored on a fielder's choice by Delgado making the score 8-3.

The Leopards added another run in the sixth when Junior Matt Jordan (Concord, N.H.) drew a walk, stole second, and scored on a single down the left field line by Oggeri.

Babson put the game out of reach with three runs in the sixth and four more in the seventh. Ahern drove in one with a double in the sixth, while Miller plated another with a single to left. The four-run seventh was highlighted by O'Toole, who hit his fourth homer of the spring to right-center, while Ahern and Miller also added RBI hits for the second consecutive frame.

Wentworth's final two runs came in the top of the seventh, as McManus led off with a double and scored on an error. Danker also scored in the inning, coming home on a fielder's choice by Carbone, but Babson junior Jeff Browne (Vorhees, N.J.) and Ahern both tossed scoreless innings of relief in the eighth and ninth to finish off the 15-6 victory.

In addition to Ahern's four hits, Babson received three hits apiece from Miller, Cleary, and Bartlett. Buress picked up the win to improve his season record to 4-2.

The Leopards were led by Oggeri, who finished with three hits and one RBI, while Flisnik and Danker each added two hits. Sophomore Adam Farrar (Newport, Vt.) took the loss after pitching 2 2/3 innings and allowing six earned runs on nine hits with two walks and one strikeout. The loss evened his season record at 2-2.

The Beavers will play home on Wednesday in the first round of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament when they host #5 ranked Coast Guard for a 3:30 p.m. game. Wentworth will next play Salve Regina on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m.