Worcester, MA --- Clark's Shawn Lamothe (Bellingham, MA) and Nicholas Kellogg (Florence, MA) each went 4-for-5 as the Cougars overcame an early three-run deficit and scored the final 10 runs of the game to down WPI 10-3 in a NEWMAC conference matchup on Thursday afternoon.
With the win, the Cougars improve to 13-11 overall and 3-8 in the league, while WPI dips to 10-14 on the season and 6-5 in conference play. The three-game season series is tied at 1-1 with the rubber game scheduled for Tuesday at Clark. Today's contest was played on Clark's field with WPI as the home team.
The Engineers opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Mike Gauvin (Leominster, MA) led off with a single up the middle and tallied the first run of the contest when Nick Bean (Middleboro, MA) doubled to right center. A single through the right side by Mitch McClune (Pembroke, MA) allowed Bean to score for the 2-0 lead.
In the second inning, the Crimson and Gray added another run as Shane Sampson (Worcester, MA) was hit by a pitch, advanced on an error, a sacrifice bunt by Kyle Bartosik (Midland Park, NJ) and a wild pitch.
Clark would get all three runs back in the third as Jeremy Gerber (Amherst, MA) singled, stole second base and crossed home plate on a two-out double byPeter Lewis (Gardiner, ME), who also scored on a single by Kellogg. Scott Hollingsworth (Tilton, NH) smacked a triple to bring in Kellogg to tie the game 3-3.
The Cougars took the lead in the fifth when Lewis singled to center field to bring in Shawn Lamothe (Bellingham, MA) who was on base with a double. In the eighth, Lamothe reached on a single and made his way around the diamond following a sacrifice bunt by Lewis and a Kellogg hit up the middle to go up 5-3.
Clark doubled its run total with a five-spot in the top of the ninth inning. The scoring barrage began with a sacrifice fly by Gerber followed by a two-run double from Lamothe. A throwing error led to another run before Kellogg closed the rally with a run-producing double down the left field line.
In addition to Lamothe and Kellogg, Lewis and Hollingsworth both were repeat hitters for the Cougars. Kellogg ended the day with 3 RBI while Lamothe crossed the plate three time. McClune notched a pair of hits for the Crimson and Gray while cleanup hitter Daniel Thomas (Manchester, NH) drew a pair of walks.
Andrew LeBlanc (Farmington, CT) hurled seven innings yielding three runs (two earned) on six hits and fanned nine in the win to improve to 3-2. Phillip Bertocci (Thomaston, ME) and Robert Lopez (Copake, NY) each recorded scoreless innings in relief for the Cougars.
Alex Julian (Sterling, MA) (1-2) surrendered five runs on eleven hits in 7 1/3 innings with three strikeouts. Bryan Schopka (Tinton Falls, NJ) pitched the balance of the contest allowing five runs (three earned) on four hits.
Both teams begin a NEWMAC three-game series on Friday. WPI ventures to New London, CT to face the Coast Guard at 3:30pm, while Clark hosts Babson at 3pm.