Baseball Opens 2021 Campaign at DIvision II Foe

EASTON, Mass. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology baseball team took to the diamond for the first in 2021, traveling to Division II Stonehill College for a non-conference doubleheader. The Skyhawks (3-0) took the first game, 10-1, and held on for an 8-6 win in the nightcap as the Leopards (0-2) nearly rallied for the split.

GAME ONE:  Stonehill 10, Wentworth 1

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Wentworth Batting Leaders:  Kyle O'Neill (1-for-3); Matt Bishop (1-for-3); Michael Petit (SF, RBI)
Wentworth Pitching Leaders:  Brandon Sullivan ((L, 0-1), 2.1 IP, 5K); Matt Perconti (2.2 IP, 0R, 3H); Jacob Knowles (1IP, 0R, 0H, 2K)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wentworth got on the board in the top of the second inning as junior Kyle O'Neill (Haverhill, Mass.) reached on an infield single. Classmate Nolan McManus (Milton, Mass.) followed by reaching on a fielder's choice, with O'Neill being forced out at second on the bunt attempt. Junior Matt Bishop (Ballston Lake, N.Y.) delivered a single which moved McManus to third and he scored when freshman Michael Petit (Sandwich, Mass.) hit a sacrifice fly.
• Sophomore Brandon Sullivan (Quincy, Mass.) set the first six Stonehill batters down, including four by way of a strikeout, however the Skyhawks took advantage of three Wentworth errors and six walks in the third inning to score all of their runs. Sophomore Conor Kiely (Portsmouth, R.I.) sophomore Edward Beauregard (Paxton, Mass.) each delivered two-run singles in the frame.
• Juniors Matt Perconti (Hancock, Maine) and Jacob Knowles (Concord, N.H.) held Stonehill scoreless over the final 3.1 innings of work, yielding just three hits.
• O'Neill and Bishop provided the Leopards with a hit apiece, while Petit drove in the lone run. Sullivan took the loss (0-1), allowing 10 runs (six earned) on five hits and struck out five in 2.1 innings of work. Perconti allowed three hits and struck out one in 2.2 innings and Knowles pitched a perfect sixth, striking out two.

GAME TWO:  Stonehill 8, Wentworth 6

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Wentworth Batting Leaders:  Aidan French (2-for-3, 1 2B, 3RBI); Michael Petit (1-for-2, 2R, 1RBI); Nolan Freeman (1-for-1, 1RBI)
Wentworth Pitching Leaders:  Jeff Rodden ((L, 0-1; 3IP, 6K), Brodi Farinas (3IP, 0R, 0H, 5K)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Stonehill jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the home half of the first inning on a three-run double from senior Rob Duarte (Raynham, Mass.) and a two-run single from sophomore Chris Roberti (New Fairfield, Conn.).
• Wentworth sliced the lead to 5-1 in the top of the third as junior Nolan Freeman (Braintree, Mass.) led off with a walk, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a senior Aidan French (Chicago, Ill.) single.
• In the bottom of the third the Skyhawks scored three times as Kiely had an RBI single and senior John Orzechowski (Monroe, Conn.) hit a two-run double.
• The top of the fourth saw the Leopards score four times to pull within three. With one out, O'Neill singled and went to second when McManus was hit by a pitch. Bishop reached on an error to load the bases and Petit followed with an RBI single to score O'Neill. McManus scored on a Freeman single and a two-run double brought home Bishop and Petit.
• Freshman Brodi Farinas (Lewiston, Maine) came in in relief in the bottom of the fourth and held the Skyhawks in check, allowing just one baserunner in three innings. In the sixth inning, the Black & Gold cut the lead to two. Petit and Freeman led off the inning each being hit by a pitch and French walked to load the bases. Freshman Christian Peruzzi (Plymouth, Mass.) grounded into a double play which allowed Petit to score.
• The top of the seventh saw junior Kyle Desjardins (North Granby, Conn.) lead off with a walk and, with one out, went to second on an error on a failed pickoff attempt. However, Stonehill pitching got back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.
• French finished 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI while Petit and Freeman each had a single and an RBI.
• Freshman Jeff Rodden (Plymouth, Mass.) picked up the loss (0-1), allowing eight runs on eight hits and striking out six in the first three innings. Farinas yielded just one walk over the final three innings while striking out five batters.

ALL-TIME SERIES:

• Today marked the 11th and 12th all-time meetings between the two programs but the first since March 20, 1998. Stonehill leads 8-4 and has a three-game series win streak.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth opens Commonwealth Coast Conference play on Saturday with a doubleheader at Endicott.

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