Auburndale, FL --- Kyle Boucher (Manchester, NH) went the distance in a 9-2 win and Daniel Thomas (Manchester, NH) hit a pair of homers in the 8-6 loss as WPI Baseball split a doubleheader versus Wentworth to begin the 2011 campaign at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational on Sunday. WPI and Wentworth are now 1-1 on the young season.

Boucher (1-0) gave up one earned run on six hits, while striking out three. Mitch McClune (Pembroke, MA) began the scoring with a home run on a 1-0 pitch in the first.

In the fourth Matt Blakeman (Bedford, NH) doubled to drive in three runs as part of a stretch that saw the Engineers score four unearned runs. Blakeman would end the game with four RBI.

Eight of the nine WPI starters collected hits in the night cap with catcher Kyle Bartosik's (Midland Park, NJ) two-run single highlighting a three-run seven inning that gave Boucher some insurance. 

In the first game of the day, The Crimson and Gray jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first as McClune connected for a double to bring in two runs. McClune then crossed the plate on a single by John Flynn (Albion, ME). The Engineers held a 5-1 advantage going into the fifth when Wentworth put up three runs. WPI responded with a run in the bottom of the inning. 

The Leopards added four runs over the final two innings. An Engineer rally in the seventh was cut short by a double play on an infield ground ball.

Bryan Watkins (Belmont, MA) allowed four runs in five innings and struck out five in the opening game. Shane Sampson (Worcester, MA) (0-1) was charged with the loss.

WPI is back on the diamond tomorrow when they take on Anna Maria in a doubleheader beginning at 12:30pm.