WORCESTER -- WPI and Clark split a NEWMAC doubleheader on Friday afternoon Granger Field. The Engineers (16-21, 5-11) won game one, 7-4, while the Cougars (17-19, 8-8) took the nightcap, 3-1.
WPI's Kyle Johns (Milltown, NJ) and Tommy Burns (Morris Plains, NJ) each posted three hits and an RBI on the day. Everett Wonson (Wenham, MA) moved to 4-2 with the win, throwing 7.2 innings, and allowing four runs on eight hits with six strikeouts. Noah Pins (Holden, MA) shut the door, tossing 1.1 innings to secure the victory.
Clark's Benjamin Spencer (New Holland, PA) suffered the game-one loss, throwing seven innings, allowing seven runs on 13 hits with three strikeouts.
In game two, Maxwell Gitlin (Los Angeles, CA) and Max Moss (Manhattan, NY) combined to allow just six hits as Gitlin moved to 5-2 and Moss nabbed his first save of the season. Gitlin tossed 6.2, allowing one run on four hits with six strikeouts, while Moss finished out the game allowing two hits with one strikeout. WPI's Owen Radcliffe (Holliston, MA) took the loss, throwing eight innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts.
At the plate for Clark, CJ Johnson (Danbury, CT) notched four hits and two RBI between the two games, while Tyler Jones (West Haven, CT) and Carter Doran (Natick, MA) each recorded three hits.
Game One
The Engineers had two big innings and held off a late charge from Clark to take game one, 7-4.
Clark got on the board in its first at-bat as Ryan Caulfield (Simsbury, CT) singled and later scored on a passed ball to make it 1-0.
Four WPI runs on six hits in the top of the fourth put the Engineers in the driver's seat. Jacob Hand (Niskayuna, NY) started things with a single before stealing second, scoring on a Johns single to left center. Jack Zawacki (Pittsford, NY) and Jonathan Lattimer (Windsor, CT) each singled and a throwing error made it 3-1. A Liam Keblin (Newton, MA) base hit accounted for the fourth run of the frame before a strikeout ended things with WPI up 4-1.
The Engineers extended their advantage to 7-1 with a three-run top of the eighth inning. Brooks led off with a single and Keblin was hit by a pitch before Burns doubled in a run. A Hand single drove in the second run of the frame, while a bases-loaded hit by pitch to Zawacki pushed it to a six-run lead before a double play allowed Clark to escape the jam.
The Cougars rallied for three in the bottom of the eighth, closing the gap to 7-4. WPI got back-to-back groundouts to start the inning before the two-out rally. Singles from Samuel Farrell (Holliston, MA), Doran, and Johnson pushed one run across before Jones sent two home on a single up the middle. Another base hit from Anthony Keefe (Plymouth, MA) put runners on first and third with two down, but Pins got the final batter of the frame to fly out to stop the bleeding.
In the bottom of the ninth, Pins worked around a walk to finish out the game.
Game Two
A late rally wasn't enough for WPI as the Engineers dropped game two against Clark, 3-1.
The Cougars scored a pair of runs in the top of the first, as an RBI single from Doran and an RBI double from Johnson pushed it to 2-0.
Clark added to their advantage in the top of the fourth with a two-out rally. Billy Sullivan (Hicksville, NY) singled and stole second and third and Caulfield drove him home with an RBI double to right field to make it 3-0.
WPI loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth, but couldn't get a run across. Brooks and Hand singled to start the rally and an error saw Brennan reach with two outs. Clark's Gitlin got the final batter looking to end the threat.
The Engineers finally broke through with a run in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, DeRoma and Brooks both worked walks setting up Joe Salvon (West Springfield, MA) who singled in a run to cut the lead to 3-1.
In the bottom of the ninth, DeRoma recorded a one-out single, but Moss mowed down the final two batters to earn the save.
The teams will wrap up the regular season tomorrow with an 11:00am game at Holy Cross.