Northboro, MA --- WPI's DJ Ouellette (Watertown, CT) and Alex Venditti (Newton, MA) connected on two-run homers in an 11-4 victory over visiting Fitchburg State in a non-conference baseball game on Friday afternoon at the New England Baseball Complex. The weather was once again a factor as the game was halted after seven innings.
After Sean Greene (Hingham, MA) plated a run with a two-out RBI single, Ouellette jacked a two-run homer to left. Blanchard followed with a run-producing double for the 4-0 Engineer lead after one.
The second inning saw Venditti clear the fence in right center to deliver two more runs for the Crimson and Gray (9-4). Zach Blanchard (Warwick, RI) then used an RBI ground out in the third to extend the Engineers scoring streak to 11 consecutive innings.
Fitchburg State (5-5) collected three runs in the fourth as Brendan Cutler (Clinton, MA) doubled to right center to push a pair of Falcons across. He later scored on an Engineer miscue. The guests added one more in the sixth courtesy of an unearned run.
Nick Comei (Haverhill, MA) drew a bases loaded walk and, following a pitching change, Venditti connected on a 2-RBI double. Comei eventually touched home following a Falcon miscue for the 11-4 final.
Aidan Freeburg (Billerica, MA) collected his second win of the season with a one-hit, seven-strikeout performance through six innings. Drew Gelinas (Saco, ME) struck out two in the final frame for the hosts.
Venditti (double, HR, 4 RBI), Ouellette (HR, 2 RBI), Blanchard (double, 2 RBI) and John Caliri(Hanson, MA) (double) all logged a pair of hits. Vinny D'Ambrosio (Mahopac, NY) drew a game-best three walks while Anthony Capuano (Stoneham, MA) earned a pair of free passes.
Nik Powers (Lowell, MA), Andrew Currie (Quincy, MA) and Andrew Lessard (Peabody, MA) shared time on the hill for Fitchburg State. Cutler's run-producing double was the only Falcons hit on the day.
WPI scored 11 runs on nine hits while the Falcons tallied four runs on one hit. The Engineers were aided by a pair of miscues while committing four themselves.
The Crimson and Gray are slated to open NEWMAC play tomorrow with Wheaton tomorrow at 11am at the New England Baseball Complex. Fitchburg State is off until Wednesday when it welcomes Rivier for a 3pm non-conference tilt.