AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Senior Johnny Ryan (Brandy Rock, Mass.), junior Jordan Burst (Jackson, N.J.), and sophomore Tyler Weninger (Chandler, Ariz.) each recorded three hits on the day as the Wentworth Institute of Technology baseball split a non-conference doubleheader against King's (Pa.) at the Lake Myrtle Sports Park. The Leopards rallied with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to tie game one but fell in 10 innings, 4-3, and fended off a late Monarch rally to pick up their first win of the season with an 8-6 decision in the nightcap.
GAME ONE: King's 4, Wentworth 3 (10 innings)
Kings took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a home run from sophomore Sean Padden (Scranton, Pa.) and added two more in the fourth to go ahead 3-0. Sophomore Bruce Breithaupt (Stroudsburg, Pa.) hit a one-out double and Padden followed with an infield single. A sophomore Kyle Lupas (Laflin, Pa.) single loaded the bases and everyone moved up 90 feet when freshman Pack (Hanover Township, Pa.) reached on an error which plated Breithaupt. Freshman Sean McKee (Easton, Pa.) delivered a sacrifice fly to center which scored Padden. Senior Zack Bernier (North Dartmouth, Mass.) prevented any further damage when he induced an inning-ending lineout.
Wentworth chipped away at the lead beginning in the top of the fifth as Ryan hit his first career home run. Ryan would start the Leopards' comeback in the top of the seventh with a leadoff double to left center. Freshman Jake Smith (Orange, Conn.) followed by reaching on an error which moved Ryan to third and classmate Matt Smith (Horseheads, N.Y.) laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached on an error to load the bases. Junior Christian Ferri (Bloomfield, N.J.) reached on a fielder's choice which would plate Ryan and a throwing error would allow Jake Smith to even the game at 3-all. Wentworth had runner at first and third, however a popup ended the inning and sent the game to extra innings.
In the top of the ninth the Leopards had runners at first and second with two outs, however were unable to push a run across. King's went in order in the bottom of the ninth as senior Corey Jerolmon (New Milford, Conn.) came on in relief of Bernier and Wentworth was set down in order in the top of the 10th. In the bottom of the inning junior Nick Trivigino (Cherry Hill, N.J.) led off with a single and with one out went to second on a junior Tom Gibbons (Harleysville, Pa.) single. Freshman Chris Rebar (Scranton, Pa.) hit a deep fly out to center which allowed both runners to move up 90 feet and, after Breithaupt was intentionally walked, Padden hit a single to right to end the game.
Padden finished 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI and Gibbons finished 2-for-5. Freshman Chris Lupole (Kingston, Pa.) picked up the win after allowing two hits and striking out one over the final 3.1 innings.
Ryan was 3-for-5 with two doubles and a home run while Weninger and Burst had two hits each. Jerolmon picked up the loss (0-1) after allowing one run on three hits in 1.2 innings. Bernier pitched the first eight innings allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and striking out five.
GAME TWO: Wentworth 8, King's 6
The Leopards jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two innings of play. In the first inning Ferri led off with a double and with one out went to third on an error when Weninger reached on a fielder's choice. Burst walked to load the bases and senior Sam McManus (Hopkinton, N.H.) delivered a bases-loaded walk to score Ferri. Junior Jimmy Temte (Northborough, Mass.) scored Weninger and Burst when he singled through the right side.
An inning later the Black & Gold scored four times as Weninger had a two-run single and Burst drove him in. McManus singled to move Burst to third and McManus would steal second which allowed Burst to score on the throw.
McKee opened the top of the third by reaching on an error which allowed him to advance to second. Junior Ryan Hydock (Mount Bethel, Pa.) sacrificed him to third and Gibbons grounded out which allowed McKee to score the first King's run of the game. The Monarchs made it 7-3 in the top of the fifth as Lupole led off with an infield hit. After a lineout, an error allowed Lupole to move to second and Hydock followed with a home run.
Wentworth got a run back in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it 8-3. Temte led off with a walk and went to second when Ryan drew a walk. On an errant pickoff attempt, Temte moved to third and came in to score on a Jake Smith sacrifice fly.
The Monarchs made it a four-run game with a single run in the sixth. Breithaupt led off with a single and went to second on a Padden single. Lupas was hit by a pitch to load the bases and freshman Tyler Reynolds (Queens, N.Y.) delivered a sacrifice fly to plate Breithaupt. Freshman Mike Callagee (Emerson, N.J.) prevented any further damage by getting a ground out and a popup to end the inning.
King's pulled within a pair in the top of the seventh as Gibbons hit a one-out single and went to third on a Rebar double. Breithaupt followed with a single up the middle to score both runners, however Callagee ended the game when he induced a double play.
Callagee picked up his first collegiate win (1-0) as he allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits and struck out one in a complete-game effort. Ferri, Weninger, Burst, McManus, and Temte all had hits for Wentworth.
Breithaupt went 3-for-4 and Rebar went 2-for-4 for the Monarchs. Senior Jared Smigelski (Mountain Top, Pa.) was tagged with the loss (0-1) allowing five runs on two hits in an inning-plus of work.
Wentworth plays Anna Maria on Wednesday.
Breithaupt
