WORCESTER -- The WPI baseball team closed out the 2023 season with a tight 3-2 loss at the hands of NEWMAC and cross-town rival Clark on Saturday at Holy Cross.
The Engineers finish the campaign at 16-22 overall and 6-11 in NEWMAC play. Clark improves to 18-19, 9-8 in the NEWMAC and claims the conference's West Division crown. The Cougars will earn the second seed in next week's NEWMAC Tournament and will await the bracket reveal later this weekend or early next week.
Clark reliever Andres Hulfachor (Nashua, NH) was masterful, throwing five scoreless innings in the win to move to 2-2 on the season. He didn't allow a hit and posted seven strikeouts, shutting down the WPI offense. The Engineers' Jack Gomes (Newport, RI) took the loss, throwing two innings, allowing one run, unearned on three hits with two strikeouts.
The Cougars' offense was paced by two hits each from Ryan Caulfield (Simsbury, CT), Tyler Jones (West Haven, CT), and Anthony Keefe (Plymouth, MA). Caulfield and Steven Mooney (Buffalo, NY) each recorded RBI.
WPI was paced by two hits from Kyle DeRoma (Dracut, MA) and an RBI from Liam Keblin (Newton, MA).
Clark went up 2-0 with solo runs in the first and second innings In the first, wild pitch on a walk to Doran plated Caulfield for a 1-0 advantage. In the second, it was a Mooney sac fly that scored Keefe to push it to 2-0.
WPI tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the second. Jack Zawacki (Pittsford, NY) and DeRoma opened the frame with singles, while a sac bunt moved both runners to third. Keblin then sent one deep enough, scoring Zawacki on a sac fly. On the next batter, a muffed throw allowed DeRoma to cross the plate for the tying run.
Both team's pitchers settled and combined for four scoreless innings before Clark broke through in the top of the seventh. A Keefe single, a fielder's choice, and a walk loaded the bases with one out. Caulfield then singled to right bringing in what would be the winning run, as the Cougars went up 3-2.
From there, Hulfachor shut the Engineers down to wrap up the win.