Winter Haven, FL --- The WPI and Roger Williams split a pair of one-run baseball games Monday afternoon at the RussMatt Invitational. The Engineers secured the 5-4 victory in game one and the Hawks took the second game 7-6.
After the Hawks (1-5) scored three of their four runs in the bottom of the first of the eye-opener, WPI (3-1) responded with four of its five runs in the top of the second to take the lead. With the bases juiced and zero outs, Matt Cote (Burrillville, RI) doubled in a pair of Engineers. Vinny D'Ambrosio (Mahopac, NY) and Nick Comei (Haverhill, MA) each followed with an RBI single.
Anthony Capuano (Stoneham, MA) pushed home Sean Greene (Hingham, MA) with what proved to be a game-winning RBI ground out. Roger Williams scored an unearned run in the seventh but the Engineers prevailed with the 5-4 victory.
Andrew Portera (Alpharetta, GA) picked up the win and Dan Bettigole (South Windsor, CT) struck out three in the final 2 2/3 en route to the save.
D'Ambrosio, Greene, Alex Venditti (Newton, MA) and Zach Blanchard (Warwick, RI) all recorded a pair of hits as Venditti and Cote each doubled.
DJ Ouellette (Watertown, CT) scored the first run of the nightcap when he was awarded home courtesy of a balk in the bottom of the second. Roger Williams used RBI singles to even it up in the fourth and later take the lead in the fifth.
The Engineers regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth thanks to Venditti's 2-RBI double to center field. Roger Williams swung the pendulum in its favor with a four-run top of the sixth.
WPI battled back in the home half of the sixth to tie the game once again. D'Ambrosio singled in a run and Greene knotted the contest at 6-6 with a 2-RBI single to left center.
An unearned run in the top of the seventh proved to be the difference for the Hawks. With one out and a pair of runners aboard, the Roger Williams center fielder handled a single up the middle and gunned down the lead Engineer to preserve the lead. A swinging strikeout ended the contest.
CJ Doskocil (Sterling, MA) fanned five in the first 5 1/3 while Drew Gelinas (Saco, ME) struck out two and was on the hook for the decision.
Greene was 3-for-3 at the dish to go with a walk, two RBI and a run scored. D'Ambrosio and John Caliri (Hanson, MA) each hit safely twice and Venditti notched his second double of the day.
Baseball returns to Auburndale, FL on Wednesday for a 2pm doubleheader against Wentworth.