SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – A three-run sixth inning allowed the Wentworth Institute of Technology baseball team to rally from a 3-2 deficit and take a 5-3 win in the opening game of a Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader against Western New England. The Golden Bears salvaged a split with a 14-5 win in the nightcap.
Game One: Wentworth 5, Western New England 3
Wentworth took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning as senior Christian Ferri (Bloomfield, N.J.) was hit by a pitch to lead off the game and went to second on a classmate Jordan Burst (Jackson, N.J.) single. Junior Tyler Weninger (Chandler, Ariz.) reached on a fielder's choice which erased Burst but moved Ferri to third. Senior Jimmy Temte (Northborough, Mass.) singled through the left side to bring in Ferri and freshman Owen Swanson (New Milford, Conn.) singled to score Weninger. The Leopards had chances to tack onto their lead, however would leave the bases loaded.
The Golden Bears cut the lead in half in the bottom of the inning when sophomore Erik Lacaire (Worcester, Mass.) delivered a two-out single which scored freshman Kevin Johnson (Waterford, Conn.) who had led off the inning with a single.
Western New England took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third inning with the aid of a pair of Leopard errors. Sophomore Ben LaCroix (Branford, Conn.) opened the inning by reaching on an error and went to second on a Lacaire single. Sophomore Aaron Rios (Stratford, Conn.) attempted to bunt both runners over, however LaCroix was thrown out at third. Junior Jared Rosenblatt (Avon, Conn.) followed with a double which scored Lacaisre and moved Rios to third and Rios scored when sophomore Joe Cassella (Wallingford, Conn.) reached on an error. The Golden Bears had runners at second and third with one out, however Weninger ended the inning with a strikeout and a flyout.
The top of the sixth inning saw Wentworth score three times to take a 5-3 lead. Junior Tim Elrick (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) led off with a single through the left side and went to second on a sacrifice bunt from junior Bryon Kucharski (East Haven, Conn.) Sophomore Jake Smith (Orange, Conn.) delivered a single to score Elrick and sophomore Matt Smith (Horseheads, N.Y.) followed with a single. Jake Smith was lifted for freshman pinch runner Dan Mitchell (Avon, Mass.) and he would score when Ferri laced a double down the left field line. Matt Smith would come into score on a sacrifice from Burst.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Rosenblatt and junior John Sirios (Haverhill, Mass.) drew back-to-back walks. Sophomore Leo Coehlo (Marlborough, Mass.) came in and retired the only batter he would face to end the game.
Weninger improved to 2-1 on the season as he allowed three runs on seven hits, walked six, and struck out five. Coehlo picked up his first save of the season. Offensively, Burst had two of the Black & Gold's eight hits and was one of five players to drive in a run.
Senior Andrew Mulvey (Bristol, R.I.) was tagged with the loss (0-2) in relief, allowing three runs on four hits in an inning of work. Senior Daniel Morin (Salem, N.H.) and Lacaire had two hits apiece for Western New England.
Game Two: Western New England 14, Wentworth 5
The Golden Bears jumped out to a 9-0 lead over the first three innings and never looked back in taking game two. In the first inning, LaCroix had a two-run double which scored LaCroix and Johnson and Rios followed with a two-run single to score LaCroix and Lacaire. An inning later LaCroix delivered a two-run double which scored Johnson and sophomore Alex Loparco (Riverside, Conn.).
Wentworth got on the board in the top of the fourth inning and cut the deficit to 9-3. Burst led off with a single and went to second when Temte was hit by a pitch with one out. Swanson followed with a single to score Burst and move Temte to third before going to second on a wild pitch. Temte scored on a passed ball which moved Swanson to third and he came into score after Elrick grounded out.
A four-run fifth inning broke the game open for the Golden Bears, highlighted by a three-run home run from LaCroix while Morin had an RBI single and came into score on the home run.
The Leopards used the long ball to make it 14-5 in the top of the sixth as the first two batters to come to the plate – Weninger and Temte – each hit home runs. For Weninger it was his team-leading fourth home run of the season while Temte launched the first of his senior campaign.
Sophomore Sean Halligan (North Branford, Conn.) improved to 2-1 on the season as he allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits, walked one, and struck out a pair in five innings. LaCroix went 3-for-5 with seven RBI, Morin was 3-for-4 with three RBI, and Rios was 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI.
Junior Robby Sheldon (Dover, N.H.) took the loss (0-2) as he allowed eight runs (six earned) on eight hits and struck out a pair in two-plus innings. Sophomore Mike Callagee (Emerson, N.J.) and freshman Caleb Eaton (East Hampstead, N.H.) combined to pitch the final four innings. Six players recorded a hit for the Leopards, while Temte scored two runs.
Wentworth (13-6, 3-3) is at Endicott on Friday for a CCC doubleheader beginning at 4:00 p.m.
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