Worcester, MA --- In a game that saw 27 total runs, Zachary Bonbria (Bolton, CT) hurled six scoreless innings of relief to help visiting Fitchburg State overcome a 10-1 deficit to defeat WPI 17-10 on Monday afternoon at Assumption's Rocheleau Field. With the win, Fitchburg improves to 9-11 while WPI slips to 11-17 on the season.

Down 10-1, the Falcons began to rally as Cody Bamforth (Vernon, CT) led off the fourth inning with a double and scored following a wild pitch and a Matt Zajac (New Hartford, CT) single to center. In the sixth inning, Zajac launched a two-run homer to slice into the hosts advantage to 10-4

Fitchburg took the lead in the seventh with a nine-run spurt beginning with a Dave Alexander (Torrington, CT) three-run shot to center field. David Mason (Leominster, MA) crossed home plate following a wild pitch before Erik DiMauro (Foxboro, MA) singled in a run and John Phelan (Walpole, MA) earned a RBI walk. Frank Yavorosky (Westminster, MA) singled up the middle scored two more runs, before another wild pitch allowed Brian Ware (Beverly, MA) to score.

In the eighth inning the visitors increased their lead by three runs. Yavorosky cleared the bases on a 3-RBI double and an inning later Zajac doubled in a run for the final score of the day.

WPI jumped on the scoreboard in the first inning. Daniel Thomas (Manchester, NH) knocked in a run and an error on the play allowed another run to score. Thomas crossed home plate on a RBI ground out by Shane Sampson (Worcester, MA) before John Flynn (Albion, ME) smacked a double to bring in the fourth run of the game.

The teams traded scores in the second.  Ware singled to center to drive the first Falcon run in, while in the bottom of the frame, Flynn was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to allow the Engineers to plate a run.

In the third inning the Crimson and Gray put up a five spot for a 10-1 advantage. Nick Bean (Middleboro, MA) drilled a 2-RBI triple and scored on a wild pitch. Shane Sampson (Worcester, MA) used a run-producing-single to add another tally and crossed home plate on a sacrifice fly by David Trujillo (Sutton, MA).

Bombria picked up the win (1-0) scattering three hits over six innings and striking out six.  Starter Perry Russo (East Hartford, CT) went the first third of an inning before Pat Mercier (Townsend, MA) took over for the next 2 2/3 innings for the visitors.

Bryan Watkins (Belmont, MA) allowed just four runs over the first six innings before yielding the 3-run homer to start the seventh inning.  Brian Schopka (Tinton Falls, NJ) gave up six runs (five earned) on one hit and three walks for the loss (0-2). Brandon Boucher (Manchester, NH) and Paul Finn (Winthrop, MA) threw the final three innings for the Engineers combining for four runs (one earned) on four hits.

At the plate, Zajac led the Falcons going 4-for-6 with four RBI and two runs scored including the home run. Yavorosky was not far behind as he batted 3-for-6 with five RBI and one run scored. Alexander, Bamforth and DiMauro each recorded two hits on the afternoon.

For the Engineers, Bean and Thomas each went 4-for-6 as Bean knocked in a pair of runs and crossed the plate twice and Thomas scored three times and brought home a run.  Bean finished a homer short of the cycle while Thomas cracked three doubles.  Mitch McClune (Pembroke, MA) and Flynn each connected for a pair of hits.

Both teams hit the road tomorrow. WPI travels down Park Ave for a 3:30pm tilt to complete a three-game NEWMAC series with Clark. Fitchburg heads to Rivier for a 5:30pm first pitch.

Story by Mark Therrien - WPI Athletics