New London, CT --- The WPI baseball team dropped a 10-3 decision on the road at Mitchell on Sunday afternoon. Originally scheduled as a doubleheader, game two was canceled due to inclement weather.
WPI out-hit Mitchell, 10-8, but timely hitting from the Mariners, including homeruns from Dougie DelaCruz (Uncasville, CT) and Hunter Yaworski (Brooklyn, CT) proved to be the difference. The result improves Mitchell to 18-6 on the season, while WPI falls to 10-8.
Mitchell scored early, putting up a three spot in the bottom of the first inning. A leadoff walk to Angel Galindez (Carolina, PR) later scored on a wild pitch, while a single from DelaCruz came around to score on a Yaworski single. Yaworski scored the third run of the frame unearned on a WPI miscue to make it 3-0.
WPI got one back in the top of the second, sparked by a leadoff single from Jeffrey Brennan (Amsterdam, NY). A groundout and a strikeout followed before Andrew Brooks (Millis, MA) singled through the left side to score Brennan.
The Engineers tied the game in the top of the third, using a two-out rally to make it 3-3. With Dylan Connors (Westboro, MA) on first, Brennan singled to put two on, before Kyle DeRoma (Dracut, MA) laced a single up the middle to score both runners.
Mitchell wasted no time responding, putting up three more runs in the bottom half of the inning to lead 6-3. WPI got in trouble early, loading the bases on a single from Yaworski, an error, and a walk, before a hit batter sent home Yaworski. A bases-loaded walk sent home another run, before a fielder's choice scored the third Mitchell run of the frame. WPI got a line-out and a foul out to end the frame, as the Mariners stranded a pair of runners.
WPI put runners on second and third with one out in the top of the fifth, but Mitchell starter Eddie Kaftan (Old Lyme, CT) struck out the final two batters to end the threat.
The Mariners tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the sixth, as a three-run homerun from Delacruz followed by a solo shot from Yaworski made it 10-3 Mitchell.
WPI managed just two hits the rest of the way, as Mitchell closed out the victory.
Kaftan got the win throwing six innings, allowing three runs, two unearned, scattering seven hits and striking out five. Sam Majewski (Brewster, MA) got the save, tossing three scoreless innings, and giving up three hits with five strikeouts.
WPI's Andrew Gray (Millersville, MD) suffered the loss, throwing two innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on four hits. Henry Sniezek (Adams, MA) threw three scoreless, hitless innings in relief, while Ryan Malkowski (Hubbardston, MA), and Alexander Mondro (Westford, MA) each threw a scoreless inning in the game.
Up next, WPI returns to conference play, hosting Emerson on Tuesday at 3:30pm. Mitchell will play at Fisher on Wednesday with the doubleheader set for a 3pm start.