Auburndale, FL --- The WPI bats got hot on Wednesday at the RussMatt Invitational, as the Engineers' swept a pair of games to continue their Florida trip. WPI (3-3) opened the day with a 16-2 win over RPI (3-2-1) before a 10-5 victory against Anna Maria (2-3) in the nightcap.
The Engineers pounded out 15 hits in the opener against RPI and added 14 more against Anna Maria. Individually, Kyle Johns (Milltown, NJ) finished the day going 5-for-7 with five RBI between the two games, while Jeffrey Brennan (Amsterdam, NY) and Joe Salvon (West Springfield, MA) each notched four-hit days.
On the mound, Joseph Peregrim (Watervliet, NY) got the start in game one, throwing four innings, giving up one run on one hit with five strikeouts, while Eric DePiero (Beverly, MA) got the win, throwing three in relief, allowing one run on two hits. In game two, Jack Gomes (Newport, RI) got the win in relief, going four innings, allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts.
GAME ONE
A robust game one box score saw Kolby Robertson (Easton, PA) and DJ Brooks (Danvers, MA) both finishing with three RBI in the game, while Kyle DeRoma (Dracut, MA) and Johns each drove in a pair of runs with DeRoma notching three hits.
WPI's offense wasted no time, getting to work in the top of the first, posting seven runs on seven hits. Brooks launched a two-RBI double in the frame while Johns drove in a pair on a single. Also notching RBI hits in the inning were Brennan, DeRoma, and Cash.
The Worcester Engineers extended the lead to 8-0 on a double to left, which scored Brennan. RPI dented the scoreboard in the bottom of the frame as a one-out triple from Joey Saia (Voorheesville, NY) scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-1.
After a sacrifice fly from Robertson pushed it to 9-1in the top of the sixth, the Engineers put up another seven spot in the top of the seventh to make it a 16-1 affair. Roberston got the first big hit of the frame with a double that scored two, while Salvon had an RBI triple and Brooks drove in another on a single.
The Engineers of Troy added an RBI triple from Aidan Hicks (Pound Ridge, NY) in the bottom of the seventh to set the final score to 16-2 in favor of WPI.
GAME TWO
Johns went 3-for-4 with three RBI, while Salvon and Jack Zawacki (Pittsford, NY) each drove in two runs as the Engineers finished out their second win of the day.
Anna Maria struck first in the nightcap, leading off the game with two runs in the top of the first. A pair of walks to Christian Villa (Concord, CA ) and James Powers (Folsom, CA) both came around to score in the frame, as an RBI single from Jarrod Marifiote (Framingham, MA) made it 1-0 and a wild pitch pushed the advantage to 2-0 before WPI forced a fly-out to end the inning.
WPI took over the lead in the bottom of the first, with three runs on four hits to go up, 3-2. Jacob Hand (Niskayuna, NY) led off with a double and was sent home on an RBI single from Salvon. Then with two outs and runners on second and third, Johns put one up the middle, scoring both Brennan and Salvon for a one-run lead.
Anna Marie tied the game in the top of the fourth as a lead-off single from AJ Guitron-Moore (Newport Harbor, CA) came around to score on a wild pitch, but WPI added three runs in the bottom of the frame to lead 6-3. The Engineers loaded the bases on a pair of hit batters and a walk before Zawacki singled through the right side to push two across the plate. A Jake DelMonte (Southington, CT) single to center put WPI up three before a double play ended the threat.
The Engineers pushed the advantage to 7-3 with two runs off three hits in the bottom of the sixth. Hand had a one-out double and an infield single and a stolen base from DelMonte set up Salvon for an RBI groundout. Brennan then singled through the left side to increase the WPI advantage to five runs. One inning later, another RBI groundout, this one from Liam Keblin (Newton, MA) made it 8-3 Engineers.
The AMCATS used a two-out rally to cut the lead to 8-5 in the top of the eighth. A Guitron-Moore single got things started, while two WPI errors and a single from David Doherty (North Smithfield, RI) scored the first run of the frame. After a pair of batters were hit, the second of which gave Powers an RBI, the Engineers got a strikeout, preserving the three-run lead.
WPI tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth with singles from Salvon and Johns to set the final to 10-5.
WPI and Anna Maria continue play at the Florida event this week, as the Engineers will play two against Ursinus on Friday beginning at 3:30pm and Anna Maria plays Thomas on Thursday at 9:45am. RPI heads home and will host Colby in a Saturday doubleheader beginning at noon.