Northboro, MA --- Plymouth State won game one, 14-9, and WPI took game two, 19-10, as the squads split a non-conference doubleheader at the New England Baseball Complex. The Engineers move to 13-4 and the Panthers are now 6-5 on the season.
Trailing 7-6 in game one, seniors Ryan Richard (Berlin, NH), Ryan Boldwin (Penacook, NH) and Chris Mansour (Lowell, MA) all connected on two-run homers to swing the scoreboard in the Panthers favor in the sixth inning. Classmate Josh Goulet (Nashua, NH) added a round-tripper and fellow senior Geoff Kayo (Londonderry, NH) chipped in with a sacrifice fly for two more in the seventh. Graduate student Matt Howard (Worcester, MA) countered for WPI with a two-run blast in the home half of the inning.
Senior Ryan Tropeano (Pembroke, MA) and junior Tyrone Patterson (Upper Marlboro, MD) smacked back-to-back doubles for the early 1-0 advantage. Sophomore Jordan DeDonato (Danvers, MA) lifted a sacrifice fly to center before freshman Michael Fraser (Mashpee, MA) began a string of run-producing hits with an RBI knock. Senior Austin Lindner (Princeton Jct., NJ) then plated one and freshman Martin McCormack (Quincy, MA) chased home two with back-to-back doubles for the 6-0 advantage after one.
Plymouth State began to chip away with a two-out solo shot by junior Andrew Salta (Laconia, NH) in the second. Three more crossed the dish with two outs in the third as Richard singled down the left field line, Boldwin doubled and Goulet scampered home on a passed ball. Richard then cut the deficit to one with a two-out single through the right side in the fourth.
Howard batted 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored. Fraser (2-for-5, RBI, run) and McCormack (2-for-4, 2 RBI) each added a pair of hits. Tropeano (stolen base), Patterson (stolen base), DeDonato (sac fly), Lindner also doubled for WPI. Senior Tyler Weiss (Monroe, CT) struck out four in the start while freshman Jeremy Rhines (Plainville, MA) absorbed the decision. Juniors Nick Tagaris (New City, NY) and Dillon Bordeleau (Cranston, RI) each struck out a batter, and freshman Andrew Dupuis (Raymond, NH) made his third appearance for the Engineers.
Plymouth State junior Jimmy Zimolka (Londonderry, NH) led off with a 4-for-6 afternoon including a pair of doubles, a stolen base and three runs scored. Richard was 3-for-5 with a home run, a stolen base, four RBI and two runs scored as Boldwin was 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, a stolen base, three RBI and two runs scored, and Salta was 3-for-5 with a home run, an RBI and three runs scored. Mansour pitched in with a home run, a stolen base and two RBI, and Goulet added a double and a stolen base for the guests. Senior Cam Cossette (Milford, MA) struck out six and rebounded from the early deficit to pocket the victory. Junior Alex Larson (Brunswick, ME) struck out one before freshman Derek Walker (Littleton, NH) fanned three in a hitless appearance, and senior Dylan Gaita (Melrose, MA) finished the game with a no-hit frame.
WPI once again took an early advantage, this time with consecutive singles by Tropeano and Patterson, who later stole home on a pickoff throw. Zimolka then tilted the scoreboard toward the guests with a three-run jack to center in the top of the second. Senior Josh Herlands (Glastonbury, CT) then leveled the game at 3-3 with a two-out single up the middle in the home half of the third. Before the third out could be recorded, a passed ball gave the Engineers the lead and McCormack drove in a pair with a double down the left field line for the 6-3 margin. Senior Steven Gallagher (Coventry, RI) plated a run with a two-out single to center in the bottom of the fourth.
The Panthers made it a one-run ballgame with an RBI single by sophomore Joe Routhier (Nashua, NH), an RBI hit-by-pitch off of Mansour and a fielder's choice by junior James Salta (Laconia, NH) in the fifth. Following a pitching change in the bottom of the fifth, Tropeano doubled in a run, followed by an RBI single by Patterson, a run-producing double by Howard and a two run double by junior David Larson (Port Tobacco, MD) for the 12-6 advantage.
Andrew Salta sent a home run to center field prior to Howard scoring on a passed ball and Lindner connecting on a two-run single to right in the seventh. WPI then forged four in the eighth behind RBI singles by Larson and Herlands, a bases-loaded walk by Gallagher and a sacrifice fly by Fraser. Routhier began the ninth with a run-producing infield single. Andrew Salta crossed home plate on a miscue and Routhier scored on a double play ball put into play by James Salta.
Zimolka had three RBI and Routhier finished with two hits and two RBI. Junior Mark Levesque (Milton, NH) shouldered the decision for Plymouth State.
Tropeano led the Engineer with three hits followed by Patterson, Larson, Gallagher, Herlands and McCormack (doubles) with two each. Larson paced the squad with three RBI to go with a pair by Patterson, Herlands, Lindner and McCormack. Junior Kyle Foley (Watertown, MA), who was one of six pitchers in the nightcap, struck out three and picked up the win. Freshman Alexander Mondro (Westford, MA) set down five in the first four innings.
WPI opens NEWMAC play at Babson on Tuesday. First pitch is slated for 3:30pm. Plymouth State heads to Bates for a set tomorrow beginning at noon.