March 9, 2018

Lindner and Tropeano Key WPI's Split With Anna Maria at RussMatt Invite

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Auburndale, FL --- Juniors Austin Lindner (W. Windsor, NJ) and Ryan Tropeano (Pembroke, MA) each went 3-for-4 and combined for five runs scored as WPI won the second game of a baseball doubleheader with Anna Maria Friday at the RussMatt Invitational. The AMCATS (3-5) won the opener 4-3 while the Engineers (4-4) took the nightcap 13-3.

WPI capitalized on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by sophomore David Larson (Port Tobacco, MD) to claim a 2-0 lead after one in the second game. The Engineers added three more in the second behind a bases-loaded walk by junior Steven Gallagher (Coventry, RI) and a 2-RBI single by senior Matt Howard (Worcester, MA).

Anna Maria then began a string of three consecutive one-run frames while the Engineers also plated one in the third with a hit up the middle by junior Josh Herlands (Glastonbury, CT). WPI went on to score the final seven of the game. Larson scampered home on a wild pitch and Lindner drove an RBI single to right center in the fifth as Gallagher doubled and sophomore Tyrone Patterson (Upper Marlboro, MD) to bring in a pair in the sixth.

Lindner made it 11-3 with a home run to left. Senior Evan Lacroix (Methuen, MA) and Howard finished off the scoring with RBI singles.

Lacroix, Howard and Patterson each posted a pair of hits as Tropeano and Lacroix each stole two bases.

Junior Sam Bacchiocchi (Freetown, MA) earned his second career win. Classmate Dominic Fusco (North Haven, CT) struck out five and sophomore Kyle Wood (Hauppauge, NY) set down a pair.

After Anna Maria built a 4-0 lead in the first game, WPI began to whittle down the margin as Lindner cleared the left field fence in the third and followed with a productive ground out in the fourth. With two outs in the seventh, Lacroix made it a one-run game with a hit down the left field line.

Senior Aidan Freeburg (Arlington, MA) made his season debut and yielded to sophomore Nick Colucci (Lynnfield, MA) who struck out eight in relief.

The Engineers close out their trip with a 9am set versus St. Joseph's (ME).