Cambridge, MA --- WPI took advantage of four MIT errors to score three unearned runs that proved to be the difference in a 5-2 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) baseball win. Freshman Mike Duclos (Greenfield, MA) allowed two runs on five hits over six innings to pick up the win for WPI while junior K.J. Parent (Knoxville, TN) surrendered six hits and four runs, just one of which was earned, over six innings for MIT.
There was no scoring over the first three innings as Duclos and Parent combined to allow just four hits in that span. WPI (16-11, 9-5 NEMWAC) scored first in the fourth when sophomore Vinny D'Ambrosio (Mahopac, NY) led off with a double down the line in left. After moving to third on a groundout, he then came in to score on a base hit by sophomore Sean Greene (Hingham, MA).
A pair of errors by MIT (14-9, 10-4 NEWMAC) allowed WPI to put its first two runners on in the fifth. With runners on second and third sophomore D.J. Ouellette (Watertown, CT) singled up the middle to make it 2-0. Senior David Trujillo (Sutton, MA) followed with a sac fly to make it a three-run lead. A wild pitch and a single put runners on the corners for D'Ambrosio, who laid down a bunt that got the run home and made it 4-0.
In the bottom half of the inning MIT answered when freshman John Drago (Peoria, AZ) connected for his third home run of the season, a two-run shot to right that also scored senior Jon Rea (Palo Alto, CaA). That was all the Crimson and Grey could muster on the day, however, as WPI's pitching held the Engineers to just six hits. WPI went on to add an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI single by freshman Nick Comei (Haverhill, MA).
WPI's bullpen did its job over the final three innings, limiting MIT to two hits and a pair of walks. Junior Andrew Portera (Alpharetta, GA) tossed two hitless innings for the Engineers, with freshman Dan Bettigole (South Windsor, CT) finishing it off in the ninth for his fourth save of the season. MIT put two on against him when Drago walked with two down and junior Parker Tew(Chapel Hill, NC) singled, but Bettigole came back to retire the final hitter on a foul out to third to finish it.
Drago was the only MIT hitter with multiple hits, finishing with a 2-for-2 day including the home run. Greene, Ouellette and Comei all had a pair of hits and an RBI to lead WPI.
MIT will stay in conference tomorrow when it hosts Wheaton College at 3:30 p.m. WPI will also be in NEWMAC action tomorrow, playing a 3:30 p.m. game at Springfield College.
Release Courtesy MIT Sports Information