Springfield, MA --- The WPI baseball team surrendered a 7-6 decision to Springfield in a back-and-forth NEWMAC West contest Friday.

The Engineers (11-20, 3-12) posted a pair of runs in the first as junior Ryan Tropeano (Pembroke, MA) scored on a miscue and classmate Josh Herlands (Glastonbury, CT) sent a sac fly to center. The Pride (19-11-2, 8-6) broke through in the bottom of the second to take the 3-2 lead as junior Brandon Russo (Lisbon, CT) and senior Nick Leduc (Belchertown, MA) sandwiched a sac fly by sophomore Chad Shade (Pittsfield, MA) with RBI singles to the outfield.

WPI regained the advantage in the top of the third as junior Benjamin Chaffee (Franklin, MA) singled in a run after Herlands plated another with a productive ground out. Springfield grabbed the lead back in the bottom of the fifth behind an RBI double by freshman Noah Bleakley (Granby, MA) and a sac fly by senior Kyle Allen (Westerly, RI).

The Crimson and Gray evened the game again in the sixth and seventh. Sophomore David Larson (Port Tobacco, MD) tripled home the first and sophomore Tyrone Patterson (Upper Marlboro, MD) contributed with a sacrifice fly. The hosts were also productive in both frames with Russo scoring on a miscue in the sixth and senior Peter Marsicano (Allentown, NJ) absorbing a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch in the seventh.

Bleakley (double), junior Cam Rivest (Agawam, MA), Allen and Russo all tallied a pair of hits for Springfield. Seniors Kyle Naples (Kensington, CT), Ken Manero (Hudson, MA) and Jack Weinberger (Sunapee, NH) combined to strike out 11.

Gallagher was the only Engineer with multiple hits with three including a double to go with a triple by Larson. Juniors Doug Rives (Bethany, CT) and Dominic Fusco (North Haven, CT) each struck out three batters for WPI.

The series moves to the New England Baseball Complex tomorrow for two beginning at noon.