Baseball Walks Off Martin Luther to Pick up Sweep and Run Win Streak to Three

AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Sophomore Matt McDuff (Riverside, R.I.) reached on an error with two outs, allowing classmate Mike Sibert (Lexington, mass.) to score the winning run as the Wentworth Institute of Technology baseball team swept Martin Luther. Before the thrilling, 4-3, win in the nightcap, the Leopards were an 8-1 winner over the Knights in game one.

GAME ONE:  Wentworth 8, Martin Luther 1

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Using four runs in the top of the first inning, Wentworth scored all it would need, taking a 4-0 lead. Junior Devon Lapierre (Dover, N.H.) led off with a walk and went to second on a wild pitch. McDuff drew a walk and senior Christian Peruzzi (Plymouth, Mass.) loaded the bases with a single. Senior A.T. DiPina (Pawtucket, R.I.) was hit by a pitch to bring in a run and McDuff scored when senior Michael Petit (Sandwich, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice. A sophomore Matthew Favazzo (Billerica, Mass.) single plated Peruzzi and sophomore Matt Robinson (Mystic, Conn.) doubled in Petit.
• The Leopards increased their lead to 5-0 in the second on an RBI groundout from McDuff before a sacrifice fly by Martin Luther put the Knights on the board.
• In the fifth inning, Peruzzi tripled and came around to score on a DiPina single. DiPina stole second and went to third on a passed ball before Favazzo walked. On a double steal, DiPina came in to make it 7-1.
• The top of the seventh inning saw DiPina hit a leadoff double and he went to third on a deep fly from Petit. DiPina scored on a single form Favazzo.
• Making his first collegiate start, freshman Nigel Cross (Worcester, Mass.) picked up the win, allowing one run on one hit and striking out two in four innings of work. Sophomore Connor Whitehead (Southington, Conn.) and freshman Chase Carder (Gorham, N.H.) pitched two and one inning, respectively, allowing zero hits.
• At the plate, Favazzo and DiPina were each 2-for-3 with two RBI. Peruzzi also had a pair of hits.

GAME TWO:  Wentworth 4, Martin Luther 3

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wentworth grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the nightcap as Lapierre lead off with a single and went to third on a passed ball. McDuff followed with a single to bring him home.
• The lead didn't last long, however, as the Knights tied the game with a home run in the top of the second and took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth with a sacrifice fly. With two runners on and two outs, junior Matt Ferrara (Taunton, Mass.) got a foul out to keep it a one-run game.
• Peruzzi led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run to even the score at 2-all, however, the next three batters were retired to keep it at 2-all, heading into the fifth inning.
• After leaving a pair of runners on in the fifth, Martin Luther took a 3-2 lead in the sixth, thanks in part to a pair of Wentworth miscues. With runners at first and second and two outs, sophomore Alec Peruzzi (Plymouth, Mass.) induced a groundout to end the inning.
• Petit led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a double and went to third after a Favazzo sacrifice bunt. Freshman John Golebieski (Seymour, Conn.) came on as a pinch hitter and lifted a sacrifice fly, which scored Petit to tie the game at 3-all.
• Back-to-back singles to open the seventh inning gave the Knights a prime chance to take the lead, however, senior Brodi Farinas (Lewiston, Maine), who came on in relief to start the inning, got a strikeout before a groundout moved both runners into scoring position. The threat ended when a fly out ended the inning.
• With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Sibert drew a walk. On a pickoff attempt, an errant throw moved him to second. After a lineout, McDuff's ball in the infield was an overthrow, allowing Petit to come around and score the winning run.
• Farinas picked up the win (1-0), allowing two runs in his one inning of work. Ferrara started and allowed two runs on seven hits over four innings. Alec Peruzzi allowed an unearned run on one hit in two innings of work. At the plate, Petit was 2-for-3

ALL-TIME SERIES:

• Wentworth improves to 6-0 all-time against Martin Luther.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth plays Martin Luther on Monday afternoon.

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