Northboro, MA --- Freshman Michael Fraser (Mashpee, MA) batted 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and a home run, and six RBI, while junior David Larson's (Port Tobacco, MD) day included striking out six batters as WPI defeated visiting Springfield, 14-4, Friday afternoon at the New England Baseball Complex.
The Engineers up their record to 21-12 on the year and 7-7 in conference play, and the Pride dip to 17-14 and 7-8. The doubleheader portion of the three-game series, which was set for tomorrow in Springfield, has been postponed until next Saturday. It now appears WPI will go to MIT for a 3:30pm first pitch on Monday. The game with Fitchburg State is currently postponed. Springfield heads to Elms Tuesday for a 7:30pm first pitch.
Senior Ryan Tropeano (Pembroke, MA) scored as a result of a hit by classmate Steven Gallagher (Coventry, RI) and a miscue on the play in the bottom of the first. Sophomore Jordan DeDonato (Danvers, MA) later chipped in with a fielder's choice RBI for the 2-0 advantage. Fraser then doubled the total with a two-run double to left for the 4-0 lead heading into the second.
Junior Tyrone Patterson (Upper Marlboro, MD) pushed a pair across with a 2-RBI single to left, and scored on a double by Larson, as WPI claimed the 7-0 lead in the second.
Springfield dented the scoreboard in third with a sacrifice fly off the bat of graduate student Mark Joao (Wappingers Falls, NY).
WPI pushed the margin to 12-1 in the fourth as senior Benjamin Chaffee (Franklin, MA) doubled in a pair and Fraser cleared the fence in left with a three-run jack.
Later in the game, sophomore Noah Bleakley (Granby, MA) accounted for a trio of Springfield RBI with a shot to right field in the top of the eighth. Larson answered with a no-doubt-about-it blast to left in the home half of the frame. Fraser followed with a two-out run-producing double for the 14-4 final.
In addition to his work on the mound, Larson finished with two hits (double, HR), two RBI and two runs scored. Chaffee (double, 2 RBI, 3 runs) and Tropeano (2 runs) each registered a pair of hits while Patterson also accumulated a pair of RBI. Junior Nick Tagaris (New City, NY) pitched the eighth and senior Doug Rives (Bethany, CT) struck out a pair in the ninth.
Bleakley led the Pride with three RBI, and senior Brandon Russo (Lisbon, CT) walked three times and stole three bases. Freshman Brendan Kirck (Hamden, CT) began the game on the mound while junior Cole Donovan (Holderness, NH) collected six of the staff's eight strikeouts.