Northboro, MA --- Emerson jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, defeating WPI 11-6 in NEWMAC action on Tuesday afternoon at the New England Baseball Complex. The loss sees WPI drop to 11-12 overall, 0-4 in conference play, while Emerson improves to 8-12, 2-5 in the NEWMAC.
 
WPI was led offensively by Andrew Cash (Marlboro, MA), who went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, including a two-run single in the sixth. Matt Shea (Andover, MA) and Miles Pratt (Hampton, NH) each added two hits and scored twice. On the mound, Aidan Rice (Columbus, OH) was tagged with the loss after allowing eight earned runs over three innings of work, while Damon Chase (Rye, NH) tossed a scoreless ninth.
 
For Emerson, Braeden O'Connell (Boxford, MA) fueled the offense with two home runs and four RBIs on a 2-for-6 day. Jake Okamoto (Placentia, CA) drove in three with a bases-clearing double in the third, while Chris Ferara (Coral Springs, FL), Briggs Loveland (Burleson, TX), and Justin Fields (Glen Ridge, NJ) each tallied RBIs. On the mound, Aidan Rice (Columbus, OH) earned the win with six innings of three-run relief, striking out five while allowing nine hits.
 
Emerson set the tone in the top of the first, as O'Connell launched a three-run homer to right field to put the Lions up 3-0. WPI answered with a run in the bottom half and tied the game at 3-3 in the second thanks to a fielder's choice RBI by Liam Keblin (Newton, MA) and an RBI groundout from James DiGiovanni (Kennebunk, ME).
 
The third inning proved decisive as O'Connell belted his second homer of the day, a solo shot to center, and the Lions tacked on four more runs with two outs. Okamoto notched a three-run double, while Ferara had an RBI single during the surge.
 
Emerson added a run in the fourth on Loveland's RBI double to make it 9-3.

WPI mounted a push in the sixth, scoring three runs on back-to-back RBI hits from Cappello and Cash, but were unable to cut further into the deficit as Emerson's bullpen closed the door.

The Lions sealed the win with two more in the ninth on RBI hits from Jordi Arboleda (New York, NY) and Fields.
 
Up next, WPI will host UMass Dartmouth on Thursday at 3:30 pm, while Emerson travels to Wesleyan for a 4:00 pm matchup on the same day.