TROY, N.Y. (April 28, 2016) – Sophomore righthander Jake Kawiecki (Burlington, Conn.) allowed just one run over five innings on the mound, leading the Western New England University baseball team to a 4-1 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) this afternoon in non-conference action at Robison Field.
With the win, Western New England improves to 24-9 this season (9-3 CCC), while RPI drops to 10-21.
Kawiecki struck out two batters and walked one, improving to 3-0 in the process. Freshmen Liam Davey (Cheshire, Conn.) and Paul Wetmore (Hamden, Conn.) and senior Matt Fedor (Monroe, Conn.) turned in one scoreless inning of relief each, setting the stage for junior Jacques Boilard (Brimfield, Mass.), who registered his second save of the season with a shutout ninth.
Western New England jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, as senior shortstop Kevin Marciano (Pepperell, Mass.) was hit by a pitch with one out before stealing second, advancing to third on a passed ball, and coming in to score on a sacrifice fly by classmate Doug Milne (Nesconset, N.Y.).
The Golden Bears doubled their advantage in the top of the third on senior Eduardo Colmenares' (Caracas, Venezuela) third home run of the season, but RPI answered in the bottom half of the inning, when sophomore Weston Hawkins (Fleetwood, Pa.) lined a solo shot over the left field fence.
Western New England restored its two-run lead in the fifth on freshman Erik Lacaire's (Worcester, Mass.) two-out, RBI single to left field, before tacking on an insurance run in the ninth when Marciano plated classmate Scott Hubener (Mendon, Mass.) with a single to right.
Hubener reached base three times out of the leadoff spot, going 1-for-3 with two walks, while Colmenares scored two runs and Lacaire recorded two singles.
Hawkins led the Engineers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, and his solo homer in the third.
Freshman Patrick McMackin (South Burlington, Vt.) got the start for RPI, but pitched just three innings and surrendered two runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks.
Western New England now turns its attention to a pair of key CCC doubleheaders this weekend. The Golden Bears, who are currently in a three-way tie for first place in the conference standings, host Curry on Saturday before heading to Newport, R.I. to take on Salve Regina on Sunday.