Myrtle Beach, SC --- The WPI baseball team ran its season-opening win streak to five with a 12-2, seven-inning victory over Neumann on Wednesday afternoon at the Myrtle Beach Spring Break Tournament. The Knights see their season record go to 3-3 with the loss. 

WPI needed just 10 hits to score its 12 runs. Tommy Burns (Morris Plains, NJ) and DJ Brooks (Danvers, MA) each posted two hits with two RBI in the game, while Jonathan Lattimer (Windsor, CT) and Nicholas Battaglino (Marlboro, MA) also drove in two runs each. Jacob Hand (Niskayuna, NY) was 2-for-4 with three runs, an RBI, and a homer, while Andrew Cash (Marlboro, MA) collected two hits. 

Luke Frauton (Medway, MA) got the start, throwing three innings, and allowing two runs off of six hits. Luke Blandino (Eden, NY) earned the win in relief, going four scoreless innings, allowing two hits with four strikeouts. 

For Neumann, Joe Boccio (Coatesville, PA) and Isaiah Payton (Aldan, PA) each recorded two hits and an RBI, while AJ Nardo (Elkton, MD) had a pair of hits. Michael Whitmore (Medford, NJ) was saddled with the loss, throwing three innings, allowing six runs (two earned) on seven hits. 

Neuman struck first with two runs in the top of the first inning. A one-out Matt Mason (Wall, NJ) single set up Boccio, who doubled in the first run. Payton then singled down the right-field line to make it 2-0. Another double, this one from Nardo put runners on second and third with one out, but Fraunton forced a pair of ground outs to end the threat. 

WPI wasted no time taking over the lead, putting up six runs in the bottom of the inning. Singles from Hand and Cash started the frame and a double from Burns tied the game at 2-2. An RBI ground out from Joe DiMichele (East Longmeadow, MA) put the Engineers on top, while a Lattimer pushed it to 4-2. Battaglino then drove in two more with a double to left center, making it 6-2 WPI after one. 

WPI made it a 10-2 game with four more runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Engineers capitalized on a dropped fly ball for the first run of the frame, then got RBI walks from DelMonte and Lattimer. A Brooks ground-out accounted for the final run of the inning, as WPI did its damage without needing a hit.

The Crimson and Gray tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth. Lattimer doubled with two outs, while Brooks singled to right to score Lattimer to make it 11-2. 

A solo homerun from Hand then ended the game in the bottom of the seventh, setting the final to 12-2. 

Both teams continue tournament play tomorrow. WPI takes on Penn College at 4pm, while Neumann is back in action at 12:30pm against Penn State Berks.