Northboro, MA --- Vinny D'Ambrosio (Mahopac, NY) had a 5-for-6 day at the plate with a pair of runs scored while Sean Greene (Hingham, MA) batted 3-for-4 with two home runs, two walks, three RBI and three runs scored and Taylor Landry (Kennebunk, ME) struck out a career-best nine batters as WPI topped Springfield 13-4 in a NEWMAC West Division series opener on Friday at the New England Baseball Complex.
Zach Blanchard (Warwick, RI) and Sean Kelly (Shrewsbury, MA) also went yard for the Engineers (18-12, 8-7 NEWMAC). Blanchard also drove in three and scored twice as Kelly was 2-for-4 with a walk, two RBI and three runs scored. Alex Venditti (Newton, MA) hit 2-for-4, including a pair of doubles, to go with a walk, two RBI and a run scored. On the base paths, Matt Cote (Burrillville, RI) (RBI, run) led a trio of Crimson and Gray with three stolen bases while D'Ambrosio took two and Kelly swiped one.
Corey Wilcox (Montville, CT) paced the Pride (5-20, 3-11 NEWMAC) with a 3-for-5 day which helped produce and RBI and a run scored. Mark Joao (Wappingers Falls, NY), Steve Starr (Lebanon, CT) and Dan Bergami (Schenectady, NY) all had a pair of hits for Springfield. Starr's double was the only extra base hit for the guests.
Venditti used an RBI double to plate the first run of the game with one out in the bottom of the first. Two batters later, Blanchard launched a two-run opposite field blast to right center for the early 3-0 edge.
The Engineers struck for three more in the home half of the fourth. DJ Ouellette (Watertown, CT) led off with a single to center and was promptly plated with a two-run homer to center field by Kelly. Later in the frame, Venditti used a sacrifice fly to chase home Greene for the 6-0 advantage.
Springfield broke up the shutout on the top of the fifth. Wilcox sent an RBI single up the middle before Starr's double resulted in a two-out tally.
WPI posted another three-run frame in the bottom of the fifth. Cote doubled to left center and eventually swiped home on a perfectly executed double steal. Greene made it 9-2 with an infield run-producing single.
The Pride put one more run on the board when CJ Monroe (Wolcott, CT) hit into a fielder's choice to push Joao home in the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the inning, Greene's home run was sandwiched by sacrifice flies off the bats of Nick Comei (Haverhill, MA) and Blanchard. Greene homered again to increase the Engineers lead with two outs in the eighth.
Shane O'Leary (Kings Park, NY) singled in the final run of the day with two outs in the top of the ninth.
Landry pitched the first eight innings on his way to a 5-2 record while Andrew Portera (Alpharetta, GA) closed it out for the home team.
Mike DeMille (East Milton, MA) (0-4) went the first four for Springfield while Luke Brown (Winter Garden, FL) and Jon Medici (South Portland, ME) were called upon for a pair of innings of relief work each.
The two teams head to Western Mass. for the final two games of the weekend set tomorrow beginning at noon.
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