Northboro, MA --- Freshman David Larson (Port Tobacco, MD) drove in what proved to be the game-winning run while junior Matt Howard (Worcester, MA) batted 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI in WPI Baseball's 5-3 triumph over Becker Wednesday afternoon at the New England Baseball Complex.
The Engineers (23-8) won their ninth consecutive game as the Hawks slip to 12-14 on the season.
Howard struck for the Crimson and Gray with an RBI double down the left field line with two outs in the first. Senior T.J. Sempkowski (Oceanport, NJ) evened it up with a run-producing double to right center in the fourth. WPI regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth courtesy of a sacrifice fly off the bat of sophomore Steven Gallagher (Coventry, RI). Larson made it 4-1 with a knock to left in the bottom of the sixth.
Becker made it a one-run game behind back-to-back RBI singles by sophomore Daniel Diaz (Teaneck, NJ) and junior Josiah Shepherd (Providence, RI) in the seventh. WPI junior Evan Lacroix (Methuen, MA) saved two more runs with a diving grab to end the inning. Freshman Tyrone Patterson (Upper Marlboro, MD) then scored on a wild pitch for a WPI insurance run in the eighth.
Each team accumulated 10 hits on the day. Howard had three for the Engineers while Sempkowski had three doubles for the Hawks.
Sophomore Austin Lindner (W. Windsor, NJ) and senior Connor Kurtz (Lunenburg, MA) each had a 2-for-4 afternoon while senior Nick Comei (Haverhill, MA) walked twice. Sophomore Ryan Tropeano (Pembroke, MA) led the way with two stolen bases while Comei, Howard, Lacroix and Patterson each swiped one. Comei and Howard also teamed up for a double play.
Junior Drew Gelinas (Saco, ME) was credited with the win and senior Mike Duclos (Greenfield, MA) picked up his fifth save of the season. Senior CJ Doskocil (Sterling, MA) struck out five in the first four frames while Gelinas set down three and sophomore Tyler Weiss (Monroe, CT) fanned a pair. Weiss and Duclos did not issue a walk or allow a run in their inning of work.
Diaz and senior Trevor Read (Colorado Springs, CO) each had a pair of hits and senior Nick Harriman (Harrisville, RI) walked twice for the Hawks. Freshman Michael Martinez (Raleigh, NC) logged a game-best six strikeouts in five innings as local juniors Jorge Grullon (Worcester, MA) and Christopher LaDou (Worcester, MA) also spent time on the mound.
The Engineers open up a three-game NEWMAC West set with Springfield Friday. First pitch is slated for 3:30pm at the NEBC. The team will be participating in Coaches vs Cancer all weekend. Click HERE for more information. Becker hosts Southern Vermont for an NECC set tomorrow at 1pm.