QUICNY, Mass. – A three-run top of the seventh inning – highlighted by a two-run double from senior Jordan Burst (Jackson, N.J.) lifted the Wentworth Institute of Technology baseball team to a 5-3 win over Eastern Nazarene in the nightcap of a Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader. The Leopards had dropped the first game, 4-3.
Game One: Eastern Nazarene 4, Wentworth 3
Eastern Nazarene took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning as sophomore Matthew Urena (Flushing, N.Y.) delivered a one-out single through the right side which plated senior Zach Zaino (Falmouth, Mass.). The score remained 1-0 until the fourth inning when sophomore Zachary Carmody (Babylon, N.Y.) hit a two-run single to right to score freshman Devin Haberstumpf (Forest Hills, N.Y.) and freshman Steven Pesce (Harrison, N.Y.).
Wentworth got on the board in the top of the fifth inning. Junior Tim Elrick (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) led off with a double to left and with one out scored on a sophomore Jake Smith (Orange, Conn.) single to make it 3-1. The hosts got the run back in the bottom of the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly from sophomore John Greenlee (San Marcos, N.Y.).
Down to their final at bat, the Leopards nearly tied the game, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the seventh. Sophomore Matt Smith (Horseheads, N.Y.) led off with a double and moved to third on a passed ball. Senior Christian Ferri (Bloomfield, N.J. walked to place runners on the corners and Burst walked to load the bases. Junior Tyler Weninger (Chandler, Ariz.) doubled to right to score Smith and Ferri and move Burst to third. With one out freshman Owen Swanson (New Milford, Conn.) reached on a fielder's choice when Burst tried to score on a hard hit ball in the hole but was thrown out at the plate. A force out ended the game a batter later.
Senior Cameron Fiorentino (Uxbridge, Mass.) improved to 4-1 on the year as he allowed three runs on eight hits, walked three, and struck out six in six-plus innings. Sophomore Ryan Spina (Selden, N.Y.) notched his first save of the season in an inning of work. Carmody had two hits and two RBI.
Sophomore Ryan Obin (Plymouth, Mass.) suffered the loss (4-3), allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits in six innings of work. Ferri and Burst paced the offense with a pair of hits apiece and Weninger drove in a pair of runs.
Game Two: Wentworth 5, Eastern Nazarene 3
The Lions took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a Carmody single before the Leopards tied the game in the top of the third when, with two outs, Matt Smith singled through the right side and stole second. Ferri delivered a single through the left side to score Smith from second.
Eastern Nazarene regained the lead in the home half of the inning, as, with runners on the corners and two outs, Wentworth starter Aaron Dennis (Dover, N.H.) was called for a balk which scored sophomore Connor Simpson (Haverhill, Mass.).
The teams traded runs in the fourth inning with Wentworth tying the game at 2-all on an infield single from Elrick which scored Burst only to have Carmody score on a senior Nick Story (Gilbert, Ariz.) double to give Eastern Nazarene a 3-2 lead.
Wentworth took the lead in the seventh with three, two-out runs. Jake Smith gotthe rally started with a single and went to second on an error. Matt Smith singled up the middle, which scored freshman pinch runner Dan Mitchell (Avon, Mass.). Ferri hit a single to left to move Matt Smith into scoring position and Burst laced a double down the left field line scoring Matt Smith and Ferri to make it 5-3.
Denis set down the Lions in order in the bottom of the seventh to give the Black & Gold their first win in their last eight games.
Improving to 4-2 on the season, Denis allowed three runs on seven hits, walked two, and struck out two. Ferri, Burst, and Matt Smith each had two hits and Burst drove in two runs.
Junior Alex Way (Syracuse, N.Y.) suffered the loss (4-2), allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits in 6.2 innings. Simpson and freshman Joshua Bombard (Rutland, Mass.) each had two hits for Eastern Nazarene.
Wentworth (14-12, 4-8 CCC) is at Brandeis on Wednesday.
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