Leicester, MA --- Vinny D'Ambrosio (Mahopac, NY) scored five of the team's 19 runs from the lead-off spot, and D.J. Ouelette (Watertown, CT) hit a grand slam as WPI beat Becker at Rochdale Park on Tuesday night 19-9. WPI improves to 12-21 while the Hawks fall to 4-21.
Both pitchers struggled to find the plate early on, forcing Becker to make a change in the third. WPI scored two runs before its first recorded hit in the second inning. The Engineers' first run came after D'Ambrosio,Alex Venditti (Newton, MA) and Vincent Tavernelli (Plymouth, MA) walked loading the bases. Shane Sampson (Shrewsbury, MA) drove one deep to centerfield sending D'Ambrosio home after tagging at 3rd.
Matt Blakeman's (Bedford, NH) single was the first hit of the game for the Engineers. The junior scored off an RBI as the Crimson and Gray took a 3-1 lead.
The Boyton Hillers found their bats in the bottom of the fifth recording five hits and scoring eight runs. With the bases loaded and two outs, Ouelette crushed the ball to dead center for a monster grand slam. Ouellette had a hand in five of the eight runs in the inning and finished the game with two hits and four RBI.
The Hawks made an attempt to come back in the sixth inning that started with two fielding errors by WPI. Becker tallied four singles by C.J. Flanders (Londonderry, NH), Eric Lajoie (Oakham, MA), Todd Tompkins (West Haven, CT) and Tom Natoli (Suffern, NY) to score five runs finishing the inning within five at 13-8.
The Engineers answered and were able to pad their lead in the bottom of the sixth after a series of walks and a two RBI single by Anthony Capuano (Stoneham, MA).
In the top of the seventh, relief pitcher Sam Miraglia (West Babylon, NY) was able to stem the Becker attack by posting WPI's first one-two-three inning of the game. He came back in the top of the eighth and faced only five batters allowing one hit and one run.
Senior catcher Sampson picked off three runners and added three runs scored and three RBI on the day, while Blakeman two hits and an RBI.
Todd Tompkins (West Haven, CT) led the way for the Hawks with four hits, two runs scored and three RBI. Flanders recorded three hits and an RBI.
Craig Teed (Stratham, NH) pitched for six innings and earned the win striking out four and allowing four earned runs. Miraglia earned the save with five strikeouts in three innings. D.J. Reed (Londonderry, NH) shouldered the loss pitching for 2 1/3 innings.
The Engineers return to action on Friday, April 19th traveling across town to face NEWMAC foe Clark at 3pm. Becker takes on NECC rival Elms in a doubleheader Thursday at Rochdale Park beginning at 4pm.