Auburndale, FL --- In its season opening doubleheader, the WPI baseball team dropped a pair of decisions against Fontbonne (MO) and Rhode Island College at Lake Myrtle Main Stadium Sunday afternoon.
The Engineers (0-2) started the day off with a hard-fought battle against Fontbonne (3-4) that resulted in a 5-4 loss, while the afternoon session finished with an 18-2 loss to Rhode Island College (3-3).
GAME ONE
Fontbonne started the game off with a run in the bottom of the first inning, tacking on a trio of runs in the bottom of the third to gain an early 4-0 lead.
WPI got one back in the top of the fifth inning when DJ Brooks (Danvers, MA) hit a two-out triple to right field, scoring on a wild pitch one batter later to make it a 4-1 ballgame.
The Engineers evened the score in the top of the eighth as Andrew Brooks (Millis, MA) started things off with a single to center field. Jeffrey Brennan (Amsterdam, NY) walked and Brooks advanced to third the following batter after a passed ball. After a pop up to shortstop, Brennan stole second and Jake DelMonte (Southington, CT) walked to load the bases which prompted a pitching change for Fontbonne.
Stepping in to pinch hit was Kyle Johns (Milltown, NJ) who doubled to left field scoring DelMonte, Brennan and Brooks to even the score at four-all.
But in the bottom half of the inning, Fontbonne netted the would-be game-winner on a passed ball as the Engineers were unable to tie things up in the ninth.
Everett Wonson (York, ME) got the start on the mound for the Engineers on opening day, pitching five innings while allowing four hits, four runs and striking out seven. Ryan Malkowski (Hubbardston, MA) came on in relief and allowed just one run, but picked up the loss on the day.
Jake Jump (Alton, IL) earned the win for Fontbonne while Tyson Wilson (St. Louis, MO) earned his first save of the season while Ty Kueper (Waterloo, IL) earned the game-winning run for the Griffins.
GAME TWO
Rhode Island College put three runs up in each of the first three innings amassing a 10-0 lead before the Engineers were able to get on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Brennan started the inning off with a single to third advancing to second on a walk by Johns. A single through the left side from Martin McCormack (Quincy, MA) loaded the bases. Back-to-back walks drawn by Tommy Burns (Morris Plains, NJ) and Kyle DeRoma (Dracut, MA) kept the bases loaded and drove in a pair of runs for the Engineers.
The Anchormen responded with a seven-run fifth inning en route to the 18-2 victory over WPI Saturday afternoon.
Owen Radcliffe (Holliston, MA) got the start on the bump for the Engineers on Sunday afternoon picking up the loss, pitching 2.1 innings while allowing nine runs on eight hits and striking out two. McCormack led the Engineer offense with a pair of hits on the day.
Harrison Mansfield got the start for Rhode Island College picking up his first win of the season pitching four complete innings, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out four.
The Engineers are back in action on Monday, March 7 with a double-header against Marymount (VA) beginning at 9 am in Davenport, FL at Northeast Regional Park #4.