New London, CT --- WPI scored 11 runs in the fourth inning of the opener to rout the Bears 23-3 before Coast Guard won the nightcap 8-5 to split a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) doubleheader Saturday.
WPI is now 20-9 overall and 8-4 in the NEWMAC while Coast Guard is 12-16 overall and 4-6 in conference play.
GAME ONE: WPI 23, COAST GUARD 3
WPI sent 12 men to the plate in the fourth inning before an out was recorded as the Engineers scored 11 runs to take a 17-0 lead.
Senior Alex Venditti (Newton, MA) accounted for the first four runs in the fourth with a grand slam to right, his NEWMAC lea9ding 11th homer of the season. Senior DJ Ouellette (Watertown, CT) added a mammoth three-run shot to straight away center later in the inning.
Freshman Steven Gallagher (Coventry, RI) highlighted a four-run third with a three-run homer to right for the Engineers.
Senior Vinny D'Ambrosio (Mahopac, NY) was 4 for 5 with a double, three runs scored and two RBI's while Vendetti, senior John Mulready (Rockland, MA), senior Anthony Capuano (Stoneham, MA), Gallagher and junior Nick Comei (Haverhill, MA) each had two hits in the win for WPI while Oullette added three RBI.
Freshman Trey Rittenhouse (Ellenwood, GA) had two hits including a double while senior Kyle Wood (Mt. Juliet, TN) added two hits for the Bears.
Sophomore Steven D'Agostino (Shrewsbury, MA) (5-1) went the first five innings allowing five hits and three runs, two earned while walking five and fanning seven to get the win. FreshmanDoug Rives (Bethany, CT) worked the final four innings allowing just two hits and three walks while striking out five to earn his first career save.
GAME TWO: COAST GUARD 8, WPI 5
Sophomore Cody Bain (Beaver Falls, PA) (1-1) went eight solid innings and allowed just one earned run to pickup his first win of the season as the Bears salvaged the split. He scattered nine hits walked just one and struck out five.
Freshman Jack Brandt (Marlton, NJ) pitched in and out of trouble in the ninth to register his first career save. After getting the first two outs, Brandt walked the bases loaded before a liner to right ended the game.
Senior Cory Sonnega (Shoreline, WA) had two big hits for the Bears as his two-run single in the fifth gave the Bears a 7-5 lead and he added an insurance run with an RBI single in the eighth as he finished 3 for 4 in the win.
Coast Guard scored in the first when sophomore Zach Serna (Palatine, IL) hit a solo homer to right. The Bears added three more in the second on an RBI singles by senior Mark Behne (Clifton, VA) and freshman Luke Thompson (San Ramon, CA) before the Bears added an unearned run for a 4-0 lead.
WPI tied the game in the third getting on the board on a error before a sacrifice fly by Venditti and a two-run single by Ouellette tied the game 4-4.
The Engineers took the lead in the fifth on an RBI single by Mulready, but the Bears responded in the home half tying the game on an RBI single by senior Ed Lazowski (Mount Joy, PA) before Sonnega's two-run single gave the Bears the lead for good.
Bain got stronger later in the game as he allowed just one hit over the final three innings before giving way to Brandt.
Junior Aidan Freeburg (Billerica, MA) (4-1) suffered his first loss of the season as he pitched the first five innings and allowed ten hits and seven runs, just three earned while not walking a batter and striking out eight.
Thompson added three hits while Lazowski had two hits in the win for Coast Guard.
Comei, Mulready and Ouellette each had two hits in game two for WPI.
WPI will tangle with Emerson Monday at Rochdale Park in Leicester before taking on host Becker. Game one is slated for a noon start while the seccond game is scheduled to begin at 4pm. The Bears are back in action tomorrow when they host Emerson in a NEWMAC doubleheader at noon.
Release Courtesy Coast Guard Sports Information