Springfield, MA --- Daniel Thomas' (Manchester, NH) sacrifice fly and ground out allowed the winning runs to score as WPI took advantage of "home" field play by defeating Springfield College by 2-1 scores twice this afternoon at SC's Berry-Allen Field. The Engineers had the last at-bats on the foreign turf, and scored a run in the bottom of the eighth to win the first game, and scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to win the second game.
Thus, WPI swept the three-game series this weekend, winning all three games at Berry-Allen Field, 7-5, 2-1, and 2-1. Today's doubleheader was originally scheduled to be played at Assumption College in Worcester as WPI's baseball field is now under construction. The doubleheader was then scheduled to be played at Wachusett Regional High School in Holden, Mass. on Saturday. But that was postponed due to wet grounds. It was finally settled to play the doubleheader at SC -- with the stipulation that WPI would be the home team.
With today's wins, WPI is now 7-10 overall, 3-3 in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference. Springfield is now 6-8 overall, 0-4 in the league.
In the first game, WPI scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly to left field. In the second game, WPI scored the winning run on an infield error. In both cases, the batter was Thomas.
In the first game, the winning pitcher for WPI was reliever Shane Sampson (Worcester, MA). He pitched the last three innings, and gave up two hits and one run. He walked two and struck out one. He is now 1-1 on the season. The losing pitcher for SC was junior lefthanderAdam DeFelice (Avon, CT), now 0-2 on the season. He gave up two hits and one run, walking two and striking out none.
The starters for each team both pitched well. SC's Greg Marakovits (Rocky Hill, CT) hurled the first five innings, giving up eight hits, walking three and striking out two. Nolan Murphy(Shrewsbury, MA) for WPI also pitched five innings, gave up just one hit, walked two and struck out three.
WPI scored a run in the first inning. With two outs, centerfielder Mitch McClune (Pembroke, MA) doubled down the right-field line. Thomas singled, with McClune advancing to third. Third baseman Bryan Watkins (Belmont, MA) then singled home McClune.
Springfield tied it in the top of the seventh. Rightfielder Mike Micik (Greenwich, CT) walked, then was sacrificed to second. Catcher Sean Smith (Broken Arrow, OK) singled, advancing Micik to third, who then scored on a groundout by left-fielder Kyle DiFranco (East Longmeadow, MA) to the second baseman.
WPI won it in the bottom of the eighth inning. Catcher Kyle Bartosik (Midland Park, NJ) walked to lead off the inning. Sean Minor (Sherman Oaks, CA) pinch-ran for Bartosik. After a single and a fielder's choice, McClune walked to load the bases with one out. Thomas then won it with a fly ball sacrifice fly to left field.
In game two, Kyle Boucher (Manchester, NH) pitched a complete-game victory and is now 1-0. He gave up just three hits and one earned run while striking out three and walking three. SC freshman Alex Williams (East Hartford, CT) started for the Pride, pitched five innings and gave up just five hits and one run. He struck out nine and walked just one. Travis Lane (Canton, CT) took the tough-luck loss, giving up no hits in 1.2 innings. He struck out two and walked one.
In the WPI third, shortstop Nick Bean (Middleboro, MA) led off with a single to left, then advanced on a groundout. Second baseman John Flynn (Albion, ME) then singled him home.
In the SC fifth, third baseman Mike Robilotto (East Meadow, NY) singled to left. CenterfielderJohn Schmaltz (Cromwell, CT) then reached on a fielder's choice. Both runners moved up on a sacrifice bunt. Robilotto then scored on a sacrfice fly to right by Smith.
The WPI seventh began with two harmless fly balls to center field. McClune then walked and stole second. Thomas hit his ground ball to short, but it was thrown away -- and McClune scored the winning run.
WPI hosts MIT on Monday in a single game slated to start at 3:30pm at Assumption, while Springfield hosts Babson on Tuesday at 3:30pm.
Release Courtesy Springfield Sports Information