Baseball Opens CCC Play with Split against Gordon

WENHAM, Mass. – A bases-loaded walk by senior A. T. DiPina (Pawtucket, R.I.) with one out in the fifth inning, snapped a 1-all tie and helped lift the Wentworth Institute of Technology baseball team to a 6-1 win over Gordon in the second game of their Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader Friday afternoon. The Fighting Scots held off the Leopards, 6-4, in game one.

GAME ONE:  Gordon 6, Wentworth 4

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Gordon put up a single run in the first inning, before adding five in the second to jump out to a 6-0 lead. The Fighting Scots tallied their first run on an RBI single and took advantage of three Leopard errors in the second inning for the five-run frame.
• Playing as the "home" team, Wentworth got on the board with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Junior Devon Lapierre (Dover, N.H.) was hit by a pitch with one out and went to second when freshman Christian Roncal (Glendale, Ariz.) walked. Lapierre came around to score when senior Christian Peruzzi (Plymouth, Mass.) doubled him in and a DiPina sacrifice fly brought in Roncal.
• The Black & Gold pulled within two an inning later. Senior Michel Petit (Sandwich, Mass.) and freshman Bennett Leary (Alamo, Calif.) each walked and moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch. Junior Jake Prisco (Bridgewater, Mass.) drove them both in with a single.
• Down to their final at-bat, Wentworth brought the tying run to the plate after DiPina had a one-out single and went to second on a groundout. However, a flyout ended the threat and the game.
• Graduate student Jon Campbell (Snohomish, Wash.) took the loss (1-2), pitching the first three innings. Freshman Nigel Cross (Worcester, Mass.) allowed just two hits and struck out three in four scoreless innings of relief. At the plate, DiPina was 2-for-2 with an RBI and a walk, Petit walked twice, and Prisco drove in a pair of runs.

GAME TWO:  Wentworth 6, Gordon 1

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After the first two innings saw both teams with chances to score, Gordon took the lead in the top of the third on a two-out home run. Wentworth battled back with a run in the bottom of the third, with DiPina driving in the run. With two out, Roncal singled and went to second on a Peruzzi single before coming home on a DiPina single.
• The Fighting Scots nearly took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth, however, the go-ahead run was cut down on an outfield assist from sophomore Nick Cullinan (Sandy Hook, Conn.) to end the inning.
• After Gordon went in order in the fifth, Wentworth broke the tie with a four-run frame. Cullinan walked to lead off the inning and went to second when Lapierre was hit by a pitch. An infield single from Peruzzi loaded the bases, setting he stage for DiPina to walk and bring in Cullinan. A sacrifice fly from sophomore Matthew Favazzo (Billerica, Mass.) made it 3-1 before a two-run single from Petit gave the Leopards a 5-1 lead.
• Wentworth put up another run in the bottom of the sixth as Roncal drove in Prisco, who had led off the inning with a single. Roncal stole second, however, was left in scoring position after a fly out ended the inning.
• Back-to-back singles by the Fighting Scots with one out started a threat, however, senior Brodi Farinas (Lewiston, Maine) induced a game-ending double play, sealing the Leopard win.
• Farinas improves to 2-0 on the year as he allowed one run while scattering seven hits and striking out three in the complete-game win. Roncal, Peruzzi, and DiPina each had two hits with DiPina and Petit each driving in two runs.

ALL-TIME SERIES:

• Today marked the 67th and 68th times the two teams have met. Wentworth holds a 38-30 series advantage.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth (12-5, 1-1) continues CCC play on Tuesday afternoon at Roger Williams.

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