Baseball Punches Ticket to CCC Tournament

MILTON, Mass. – Needing just one win to earn its first Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament berth since the 2014 season, the Wentworth Institute of Technology baseball punched its ticket to the postseason with a sweep of Curry. The Leopards held on to defeat the Colonels, 8-7, in the first game – a game which began on Monday and was resumed today due to weather – and took the nightcap, 4-1.

Winners of three straight, Wentworth improves to 13-16 overall and completes its conference slate with an 8-8 record, the most league wins since the 2010 campaign. The Leopards will learn both their seed and first round opponent on Wednesday night with the tournament commencing on Saturday at the top two seeded.

GAME ONE:  Wentworth 8, Curry 7
In a game postponed from Sunday, Wentworth jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning as sophomore Owen Swanson (New Milford, Conn.) led off with a double and freshman Aidan French (Chicago, Ill.) walked. Both players moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch and Swanson scored on a single off the bat of senior Tyler Weninger (Chandler, Ariz.). Junior Andrew Elliott (Rockland, Mass.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Classmate Ross Golebiewski kept the bases loaded when he reached on a fielder's choice, which resulted in French being out at the plate. Senior Bryon Kucharski (East Haven, Conn) delivered a two-run single, scoring Weninger and Elliott. Sophomore Dan Mitchell (Avon, Mass.) plated Golebiewski and Kucharski with a two-run single of his own.

Curry threatened in the third inning as sophomore Adam Duarte (East Providence, R.I.) doubled and, with one out, junior Michael Strizzi (Williamstown, Mass.) had a bunt single. Duarte advanced to third on a flyout and Strizzi stole second, however, senior Robby Sheldon (Dover, N.H.) got a strikeout to end the inning. With the rain picking up in intensity, the Leopards were retired in order in the top of the fourth inning before the game was halted.

When the game resumed nearly Tuesday afternoon, Wentworth scored three times in the top of the sixth inning to up its lead to 8-0. Elliott led off with a home run, which was followed by a junior Jake Smith (Orange, Conn.) double. With two outs, Smith came home on Mitchell's home run. Curry began its comeback in the home half of the inning as the hosts scored five times. Junior Michael Couhig (Falmouth, Mass.) drove in a run with a single, freshman Dylan Ketterer (Plymouth, Mass.) recorded an RBI when he reached on an error, and junior Jack Kallinich (Madison, Conn.) drove in a run when he reached on a fielder's choice. Freshman Brendan Winch (Bow, N.H.) relieved Sheldon, however, he walked the only batter he faced, Strizzi, to load the bases. Sophomore Ryan Obin (Plymouth, Mass.) came in and gave up a two-run single to senior John Cave (Tewksbury, Mass.) but got the next batter to fly out to end the inning.

The Colonels scored two times in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull within a run. Junior Tyler Jenkins (East Bridgewater, Mass.) hit a one-out single and went to second when Couhig followed with a single. Both runners moved up 90 feet on a passed ball and Ketterer drove in Jenkins with an RBI single. Duarte reached on a fielder's choice which scored Couhig and Kallinach, representing the winning run, walked. Obin recorded his lone strikeout of the game on the final out to secure the Wentworth win.

Sheldon improves to 1-2 on the year as he allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits and struck out five in 5.2 innings of work. Obin notched his first save, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits in 1.1 innings of work. Mitchell was 2-for-3 with four RBI while French was 2-for-3 and Kucharski drove in two runs.

Senior Robert Reedy (Cumberland, R.I.) took the loss (1-2) as he allowed five runs on five hits and struck out two in four innings. Senior Matt Hailey (Weymouth, Mass.) pitched the final three innings, allowing three runs on four hits. Jenkins had three hits while Couhig and Duarte had two hits apiece.

GAME 2:  Wentworth 4, Curry 1
Wentworth took a 1-0 lead in the second inning as Golebiewski led off getting hit by a pitch and went to second on a bunt single from freshman Kyle Litwin (Jacksonville, Fla.). Kucharski followed with a bunt single of his own to load the bases and Mitchell drove in Golebiewski with a sacrifice fly. Curry tied the score an inning later as senior Justin Cage (Glendora, Calif.) singled in sophomore Mitchell Carvalho (Cranston, R.I.). Carvalho had hit a one-out single, stole second, and went to third when Kallinich reached on an error.

The Leopards used a two-run fourth inning to take a 3-1 lead. Elliott led off with a single and went to second on a one-out single from Litwin. A Kucharski groundout moved both runners up a base and Mitchell walked to load the bases. Junior Anthony de la Cruz (Lynn, Mass.) walked which drove in Elliott and Mitchell was hit by a pitch to score Litwin. The fifth inning saw Wentworth have a chance to break the game open, however, the Black & Gold left the bases loaded.

Wentworth extended its lead to 4-1 in the top of the sixth inning. Freshman Cole Fritz (Peoria, Ariz.) led off reaching on a two-base error and he moved to third on a Swanson sacrifice bunt. French drove in his classmate with a sacrifice fly.

Junior Mike Callagee (Emerson, N.J.) upped his record to 3-3 on the season as he allowed one unearned run on four hits and struck out five in four innings of work. Sophomore Caleb Eaton (East Hampstead, N.H.) notched his second save of the season, pitching three innings of one-hit ball and striking out one. Weninger and Litwin paced the offense with two hits apiece.

Senior Kevin Jones (Pembroke, Mass.) took the loss (1-4) as he allowed two runs on two hits and walked a pair in an inning of work.

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