Northboro, MA --- Graduate student Anthony Capuano (Stoneham, MA) snapped a 3-3 stalemate with a 2-RBI single and junior Evan Lacroix (Methuen, MA), who batted 3-for-4, followed with another run producing single in the seventh to lead WPI past Johnson & Wales, 6-3, in a non-conference matchup Wednesday at the New England Baseball Complex.
The Engineers wrap up the regular season and NEBC slate with a 25-10 ledger while the Wildcats slip to 17-15.
Sophomore Steven Gallagher (Coventry, RI) put the hosts on the scoreboard with a sacrifice fly in the first while Austin Lindner (W. Windsor, NJ) added another in the second. Senior Connor Kurtz (Lunenburg, MA) then made it 3-0 with an RBI knock to center.
JWU sophomore Dave Matthews (Newtown, CT) cooked up a 3-run blast to level the game in the top of the third. The game remained 3-3 until Capuano and Lacroix's back-to-back hits in the seventh.
Sophomore Ryan Tropeano (Pembroke, MA) (2-for-5, 3 stolen bases, 2 runs) and junior Matt Howard (Worcester, MA) (run) joined Lacroix (double, stolen base, RBI) in the multi-hit club while Capuano (2-RBI, run) logged a hit and a walk. Gallagher and Lindner also swiped a bag for the Engineers.
Freshman Matt Woods (Wilmington, MA), who faced the minimum during his relief appearance, pocketed his first collegiate decision in the form of a win and senior Mike Duclos (Greenfield, MA) collected his sixth save of the season. Junior Drew Gelinas (Saco, ME) struck out five in his three-inning shift as he nor Woods (1K) or Duclos (2K) allowed a hit in the last six innings. Senior CJ Doskocil (Sterling, MA) struck out three in the first three frames.
Senior Lou Umberto (Cranston, RI) batted 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and a run scored. In addition to his 3-run round-tripper, Matthews walked twice. Junior Rob Ballinger (South Kingston, RI) chipped in with a double. Umberto, sophomore Cam Newell (Westerly, RI) and senior Ivan Reyes (Cranston, RI) spun a 6-4-3 double play to end the sixth. Senior Ryan Cabral (Scituate, RI) struck out four and yielded the first three runs while senior Brandon Rainville (Cumberland, RI) began his two-inning shift with the fateful seventh.
Top-seeded WPI hosts either fourth-seeded Clark or fifth-seeded MIT for a best-of-three NEWMAC semifinal series Saturday. JWU heads to Mitchell tomorrow for another 3:30pm non-conference affair.