New London, CT --- WPI posted 11 two-out runs in the opener and Coast Guard received a five-hit shutout from Derek Petty (Parker, CO) in the nightcap as the two teams split their NEWMAC doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. The Engineers took game one 12-8 with the Bears taking the second game 5-0 behind the senior's second career shutout.
Coast Guard took weekend series 2-1 as the Bears improved to 8-3 overall and 3-2 in conference play while WPI is now 6-11 overall and 2-4 in the NEWMAC.
The Engineers broke open a 7-7 tie in the opener with a five-run two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh. After they loaded the bases with no outs, it looked Coast Guard would escape the jam with a strikeout and pickoff, but a two-run single by Vinny D'Ambrosio(Mahopac, NY) and consecutive RBI single from Sean Kelly (Shrewsbury, MA), Anthony Capuano (Stoneham, MA) and D.J. Ouellette (Watertown, CT) captpulted WPI ahead 12-7.
The Bears got a run back in the top of the sixth on a Mike Massaro (Sewell, NJ) RBI ground out, but that was the only run reliever Miles Schuler (Murrieta, CA) allowed in 5 2/3 innings of work en route to picking up his first collegiate win in three decisions.
WPI jumped out to a 4-0 advantage by notching four two-out runs in the bottom of the first behind a two-RBI single from Will Feraco (Auburn, MA) and a two-run double off the bat ofZach Blanchard (Warwick, RI). Coast Guard quickly responded with seven runs in the top of the second, highlighted by a Massaro run-producing single, a Matt Hanks (Chesapeake, VA)RBI single, bases loaded walks to Blake Thompson (Liberty Hill, TX) and Dan Sabourin (St. Paul, MN) a two-run single by Nolan Gallagher (New Milford, CT) and a wild pitch.
Trailing 7-4, the Crimson and Gray clawed back into the game with an Ouellette RBI grounder in the second and a sacrifice fly by Capuano and a RBI double from Ouellette in the fourth.
D'Ambrosio and Ouellette both registered two hits for WPI while Gallagher and Hanks turned the trick for Coast Guard. Reliever Anthony Martin (Fredericksburg, VA) was tagged with the loss for the Bears and is now 0-2.
In the nightcap, Petty allowed just one extra base hit, a double, while walking just two and recording the 12 strikeouts to improve to 3-0 on the season.
The Bears got all the runs they would need in game two in the top of the first on an RBI single by Gallagher scoring classmate Joe Petry (Worcester, MA), who led off the game with a walk. Hanks, who singled, came around on an RBI ground out by Massaro for a 2-0 lead.
The Bears added a run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by junior Dave Wolinski (Henrico, VA), scoring Sella, who led off with a double.
Senior Tyler Babkiewich's (Golden, CO) RBI double in the fifth scored Gallagher, who singled for a 4-0 lead before Wolinski hit his first career home run, a solo shot to right field, in the sixth to give Coast Guard a 5-0 lead.
Sophomore closer Taylor Landry (Kennebunk, ME) (0-1), made his first start of the season for WPI and worked eight innings allowing eight hits and five earned runs with one walk and seven strikeouts. Kelly had two of the Engineers' five hits, including a two-bagger.
Sella was 3 for 4 while Gallagher added a pair of hits in the game two win.
Both teams turn their attention to non-conference games on Sunday. WPI takes on Johnson & Wales as the home team at Pierce Stadium in East Providence, RI while Coast Guard hosts Castleton State in a doubleheader. First pitches are at noon.
Porition of Release Courtesy of Coast Guard Athletics