Babson Park, MA --- Dave Ahern (Bedford, MA) went 4-for-5 with five RBI and recorded a career-best three doubles to lead Babson past WPI 10-2 in the NEWMAC opener for both teams on Friday. With the win, Babson improves to 7-2 overall, while the Engineers slip to 4-7 on the season. Both teams return to Govoni Field tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at noon.

Ahern led the game off with a double and would cross home plate after Sean Cleary (Milton, MA) reached on an error and Travis Jonasson (Needham, MA) and Chris Kucher (Westwood, MA) walked. The Engineers escaped the inning on a strikeout and a ground-ball double play.

Ahern added another tally in the second on an RBI-double scoring Pat Matvichuk(Middletown, MA) who singled to right field.

WPI got on the board in the second after Nick Bean (Middleboro, MA) doubled and scored on a single through the right side by Kyle Bartosik (Midland Park, NJ).

Matvichuk knocked in the first run of the fourth scoring Corey Highfield (East Hampstead, NH), who was on base courtesy of a lead-off walk, to join a pair of Babson runners to load the base paths. Ahern cleared the bases with a double and scored a run on a ground out for the 7-1 lead.

Tim Erlandson (Hudson, MA) walked and crossed the plate following a walk, an error and a sacrifice fly by Greg Mannke (Weymouth, MA).

The Beavers put up three more runs in the fifth that began with a Highfield solo-home run. Ahern singled a run in and Matvichuk scored on a ground out to second base.

Matvichuk, John Botelho (Tempe, AZ), and Travis Jonasson (Needham, MA) joined Ahern with multiple hits on the day.

Andrew Aizenstadt (Norwell, MA) earned the win going five innings, striking out four and allowing three runs (one unearned). Jeff Browne (Vorhees, NJ) fanned seven in three innings of relief for the Beavers. Stephen Albano (Amherst, NH) faced the final five batters.

For the Engineers, Kyle Boucher (Manchester, NH) went four innings giving up seven runs (one unearned) on seven hits for the loss. Paul Finn (Winthrop, MA) and Bryce Calvetti(Derry, NH) each threw a pair of innings without giving up a run. Joe Giesecke (Mashasset, NY) rounded out the rotation for the Crimson and Gray.

Story by Mark Therrien - WPI Athletics