March 8, 2017

Tropeano, Comei and Howard Combine for 15 Hits in WPI Sweep of NEC

More news about: WPI

Batting

WPI
2B: Ryan Tropeano; Matt Howard
3B: none
HR: none
New England College
2B: none
3B: none
HR: none
full stats

Auburndale, FL --- WPI sophomore Ryan Tropeano (Pembroke, MA), senior Nick Comei (Haverhill, MA) and junior Matt Howard (Worcester, MA) all recorded five hits in a non-conference baseball sweep of New England College Wednesday at the RussMatt Invitational. The Engineers (4-2) took game one 19-8 in seven and game two 6-0 in nine.

In addition to Tropeano (4-for-5, double, RBI, 4 runs), Comei (3-for-4, 2 doubles, 3 RBI, 2 runs) and Howard (3-for-5, 2 doubles, 4 RBI, 3 runs), freshman Tyrone Patterson (Upper Marlboro, MD) had a trio of hits (3-for-4, RBI, BB, 3 runs) and graduate Student Anthony Capuano (Stoneham, MA) went 2-for-4 with a run, walk and three RBI in the opener. Sophomore Steven Gallagher (Coventry, RI) drove in three as freshman David Larson (Port Tobacco, MD) clubbed a triple and pushed home a pair. Freshman Jake Spada (Middleton, MA) walked and crossed home plate twice.

Sophomore Sam Bacchiocchi (Freetown, MA), sophomore Tommy McCarthy (Jefferson, MD), senior CJ Doskocil (Sterling, MA) and senior Dan Bettigole (South Windsor, CT) all saw time on the mound. McCarthy was credited with the win and Bettigole earned the save. The Pilgrims also had four pitchers take a turn on the bump. 

After a 1-2-3 top of the first, WPI plated four with two outs in the home half. Howard doubled in a run and Capuano quickly followed with an RBI single. Capuano completed the circuit thanks to a throwing miscue. Back-to-Back doubles led to the first run by NEC (0-5) in the second.

The Engineers tacked on three more in the second behind a ground out by Gallagher, a Howard double and a single by Patterson. Comei connected on a productive double and Gallagher followed with what proved to be the game-winning RBI single. The Pilgrims got three more back in the fourth on one swing by the NEC first baseman.

Larson drew a bases-loaded walk and sophomore Austin Lindner (W. Windsor, NJ) added a run-producing ground out. New England College then went off four a quartet in the sixth to make it an 11-8 ballgame.  WPI doubled up their opponents output in the bottom half, highlighted by 2-RBI hits by Comei (double) and Howard (single) for the 19-11 final.

The Crimson and Gray only needed Howard's two-out RBI double in the first inning of the second game. The junior went 2-for4 in the game to go with a 2-for-4 game by Comei. Tropeano added a double as Patterson stole two bases and senior Connor Kurtz (Lunenburg, MA) added one. Comei was part of three double plays as senior Joe Fainer (Thomaston, CT) helped two and Kurtz was in on one.

Larson, freshman Nick Tagaris (New City, NY), freshman Matt Woods (Wilmington, MA), freshman Keith Scales (Upper Marlboro, MD) and senior Mike Duclos (Greenfield, MA) combined for the three-hit shutout. Tagaris was credited with his first collegiate win.

WPI added three in the fifth and two in the sixth for the 6-0 victory.

The Engineers are off tomorrow and are back on the field for a pair with Husson Friday beginning at 9:15am.

Click HERE if the videos do not appear below