Baseball Drops Pair to WPI

AUBURNDALE, Florida – The Wentworth Institute of Technology baseball team suffered a pair of one-run setbacks as the Leopards were defeated by WPI, 10-9, and 6-5, in non-conference action at Lake Myrtle Sports Park.

GAME ONE:  WPI 10, Wentworth 9
Wentworth found itself down 3-0 after one inning of play as WPI used back-to-back bases loaded walks from junior David Larson (Port Tobacco, Md.) and senior Benjamin Chaffee (Franklin, Mass.) and a sacrifice fly from senior Austin Linder (Princeton Junction, N.J.) to account for the scoring. An inning later, the Engineers tacked on two runs, thanks to a sacrifice fly from junior Tyrone Patterson (Upper Marlboro, Md.) and an RBI single from graduate student Matt Howard (Worcester, Mass.).

The Leopards got on the board in the top of the third inning as sophomore Aidan French (Chicago, Ill.) delivered a two-run single which plated freshmen Matt Masciadrelli (Westfield, Mass.) and Nolan McManus (Milton, Mass.). The home half of the inning saw WPI score five times, with three of those runs coming on a bases-clearing double off the bat of senior Steven Gallagher (Coventry, R.I.). Howard and senior Ryan Tropeano (Pembroke, Mass.) also had RBI singles in the frame to make the score 10-2.

Scoring single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, Wentworth closed the gap to 10-4. In the fourth inning McManus delivered an RBI single to score senior Ross Golebiewski (Lyme, Conn.), while an inning later junior Devin Haberstumpf (Forest Hills, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch with the based loaded to bring in junior Owen Swanson (New Milford, Conn.). The Black & Gold used a five-run sixth inning to come within a run as McManus scored on a Swanson groundout, Masciadrelli came in to score on an RBI single from senior Jake Smith (Orange, Conn.), freshman Justin Kirst (Boston, N.Y.) score when Golebiewski reached on a fielder's choice and Smith went to second on an error, and sophomore Kyle Litwin (Jacksonville, Fla.) delivered a two-run single to score Smith and freshman Matt Bishop (Ballston Lake, N.Y.).

WPI threatened to add to its lead in the bottom of the inning, however, would leave a pair of runners on. Down to its final at bat, Wentworth was set down in order by senior Dominic Fusco (North Haven, Conn.), who notched his second save of the season.

French and McManus each had a pair of hits for the Leopards. French and Litwin each drove in a pair of runs. Freshman Hunter Thornton (Old Lyme, Conn.) took the loss (0-1) with classmate Jacob Knowles (Concord, N.H.) and junior Ryan Joyce (Avon, Mass.) each pitching in relief. Joyce yielded just one hit in two shutout innings of work.

GAME 2:  WPI 6, Wentworth 5
Larson gave WPI a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when he singled in Gallagher. The lead did not last long as Wentworth scored three times in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-1 lead. Smith delivered an RBI double which scored French and he and senior Andrew Elliott (Rockland, Mass.) came into score on a Golebiewski double.

In the top of the third inning the Engineers cut the lead to 3-2 when Gallagher singled in Patterson and WPI took a 5-3 lead in the fifth inning when Tropeano scored on a wild pitch and, after an error extended the inning, sophomore Jordan DeDonato (Danvers, Mass.) hit a two-run single to score Larson and Howard.

Wentworth battled back to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. McManus was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and went to second after Masciadrelli singled. Both runners moved up 90 feet on a Swanson sacrifice bunt and, after a strikeout, Elliot plated them both with a two-out, two-run single. The Leopards threatened to take the lead, however, left a pair of runners on.

After both teams went down quietly in the sixth inning, WPI plated the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh. Gallagher led off with a single and, with one out, went to second on a ground out. An error allowed Gallagher to score, making it 6-5. Fusco was brought in to close the game and set down the Leopards in order in the last of the seventh.

Masciadrelli had two of Wentworth's six hits in the contest while Elliott drove in two runs. Junior Ethan Hebard (North Attleboro, Mass.) picked up the loss (0-1) as he allowed one unearned run on one hit in 2.1 innings in relief. Haberstumpf started and allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits while striking out three in 4.2 innings of work.

Wentworth plays Kings (Pa.) on Friday afternoon in Winter Haven, Fla.

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