Northboro, MA --- Freshman Keith Scales (Upper Marlboro, MD) scattered four hits over seven innings of relief and senior Nick Comei (Haverhill, MA) connected on what proved to be the game-winning home run in a 9-7 victory over visiting Gordon Monday at the New England Baseball Complex.
The Engineers (8-4), who are now 2-0 at home, are in the midst of a three-game winning-streak. The Fighting Scots (3-7), who's streak is trending the other way, fall in their New England debut.
Trailing 7-2 early in the game, WPI made it a two-run ballgame thanks to a three-run jack by sophomore Steven Gallagher (Coventry, RI) in the bottom of the third. Following a 1-2-3 fourth, the Engineers evened it up with a 2 RBI double by graduate student Anthony Capuano (Stoneham, MA) in the fifth.
Comei opened the home half of the seventh with the go-ahead blast to left. Junior Evan Lacroix (Methuen, MA) tacked on an insurance run with a two-out run-producing single up the middle.
The game was tied 2-2 after the first inning. Gordon featured an RBI triple by senior Dean Demers (Sandy Hook, CT) and RBI single by sophomore Christian Hodge (Waltham, MA). WPI escaped further damage thanks to a 5-2-1 double play. The Engineers then leveled the game after Gallagher chased Comei home with a ground-rule double and Capuano delivered a sacrifice fly. The Fighting Scots went off for five in the top of the second. Two runs scored on a single by freshman Morgan Hyde (Thomson, GA). Demers and Hodge also singled in a run. Sophomore Daniel Quint (Wells, ME) allowed Demers to score courtesy of a fielder's choice.
Scales struck out five and walked two en route to his first collegiate win. Senior Mike Duclos (Greenfield, MA) struck out the side in the ninth. Comei (2B, HR, RBI, 3 runs) and Gallagher (2 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 4 runs) each batted 3-for-4 while Capuano (2B, sac fly) drove in three runs. Lacroix and junior Matt Howard (Worcester, MA) each stole a base as Gallagher, sophomore Austin Lindner (W. Windsor, NJ) and senior Mike Vaitkunas (Auburn, MA) turned the double play.
Hodge went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI and a walk. Demers (3-for-5, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 runs) also had a trio of hits. Hyde batted 2-for-4 with a sacrifice bunt, a pair of RBI and a run as junior Addison Tarr (Oxnard, CA) went 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Freshman Garrett Poole (Rindge, NH) was saddled with the decision (0-2) as the pitching staff combined for seven strikeouts. Sophomores Derek Hudson (Hudson, NH), Noah Henkell (San Diego, CA) and Brian Hodges (Conesus, NY) comprised the remainder of the rotation.
The Engineers host Nichols 3:30pm tomorrow at the NEBC while the Fighting Scots head to Bridgewater State Wednesday for a 3:30pm first pitch.
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