Comeback Bid Falls Just Short for Baseball

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Sophomore Dave Matthews (Newtown, Conn.) went 5-for-5 at the plate to help the Johnson & Wales baseball team hold off a late comeback by Wentworth Institute of Technology as the Wildcats picked up a 7-6, non-conference win Thursday afternoon.

With the win the Wildcats improve to 14-13 on the season while the Leopards fall to 13-9 after suffering their fifth one-run loss of the season.

Matthews and junior Rob Ballinger (South Kingstown, R.I.) scored on a single up the middle from senior Ryan Cabral (Scituate, R.I.) to give the hosts a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Johnson & Wales added single runs in the third and fourth innings as junior Edison Mercado (Providence, R.I.) drove in Matthews in the third and Ballinger drove in senior Ivan Reyes (Cranston, R.I.) in the fourth.

Wentworth sliced the lead in half in the fifth inning, thanks to a two-run double from junior Tyler Weninger (Chandler, Ariz.). Sophomore Jake Smith (Orange, Conn.) led off with an infield single and stayed there after two outs were recorded. Senior Jordan Burst (Jackson, N.J.) singled to move Smith to second and Weninger followed with his two-run double down the right field line.

A three-run sixth inning put the Wildcats on top 7-2 with RBI singles from senior Lou Umberto (Cranston, R.I.) and Matthews and a fielder's choice from Cabral accounting for the runs.

The Leopards began their comeback in the top of the seventh as the Black & Gold scored two runs to make it 7-4. Freshman Dan Mitchell (Avon, Mass.) hit a pinch-hit triple and scored when senior Christian Ferri (Bloomfield, N.J.) grounded out. Burst singled and went to second on a wild pitch before Weninger grounded out to move him to third. Senior Jimmy Temte (Northborough, Mass.) grounded out to score Burst.

Wentworth added a run in the eighth as junior Tim Elrick (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) singled and went to second on an error. Smith delivered a one-out single and, on an error, Elrick came around to score. The ninth inning saw Burst lead off with a double and advance to third on a wild pitch. Temte grounded out to score Burst and bring the Leopards within a run, however a ground out ended the game.

Freshman Tom Doran (West Warwick, R.I.) picked up the win (1-0) after allowing two runs on five hits and striking out five in six innings of work. Sophomore Josh Mosseau (Woonsocket, R.I.) picked up his second save of the season. In addition to Mattews, Mercado had a pair of hits and Cabral drove in three runs.

Junior Robby Sheldon (Dover, N.H.) took the loss (0-3) after allowing four runs on six hits and striking out three in 3.2 innings of work. Burst was 4-for-5 while Weninger and Smith had two hits apiece.

Wentworth is at Eastern Nazarene on Friday for a Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader.

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