Babson Blanks Western New England, 3-0

Morin & LaCroix record two hits each for Golden Bears

BABSON PARK, Mass. (May 1, 2017) – The Western New England University baseball team was unable to capitalize on its opportunities with runners on base in a 3-0, non-conference loss to Babson College on Monday afternoon at Govoni Field.

Top Performers
• Senior first baseman Daniel Morin (Salem, N.H.) and sophomore outfielder Ben LaCroix (Branford, Conn.) led the Western New England offense with two hits each, while sophomore Aaron Rios (Stratford, Conn.) singled and stole two bases.
• Senior right-hander Andrew Mulvey (Bristol, R.I.) took the loss despite turning in a solid effort in which he gave up just two runs on seven hits over five innings.

• Sophomore Brian McHale (Ramsey, N.J.) paced Babson, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles and two runs scored. Senior Jack Halpin (Glastonbury, Conn.) went 2-for-3 with a walk and one RBI, while freshman Jake Oliger (Newtown, Conn.) also posted a 2-for-3 effort with a walk and one run scored.
• Junior John Floegel (Summit, N.J.) earned the win for the Beavers with five scoreless innings on the mound, as he struck out four batters and allowed six hits.

Game Review
• Babson opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when McHale doubled down the right field line with one out before advancing to third on a wild pitch and scoring on an RBI single to center field by Halpin.
• Western New England, which was held without a hit over the first two innings, recorded back-to-back singles in the third and advanced both runners into scoring position, but Floegel struck out LaCroix swinging to end the threat.
• The Golden Bears stranded two more runners on base in both the fourth and fifth innings. Babson added to its lead in the bottom of the fifth, as McHale again doubled with one out before advancing to third on a single by Halpin and coming in to score the Beavers' second run on an infield single by junior Ryan Arena (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.).
• Rios reached base on an error to lead off the sixth, and the sophomore stole both second and third base, but he was stranded 90 feet from home as Western New England's offensive struggles continued.
• Babson added an insurance run in the sixth to open up a 3-0 advantage as junior David Lennon (Windermere, Fla.) came through with a two-out, RBI single to right field, plating Oliger.
• After leaving two more runners on base in the seventh, Western New England went down in order in the eighth before Babson junior Matt Cuneo (Ashland, Mass.) came on for the ninth and escaped a bases loaded situation to earn his eighth save of the season.

Notes
• Western New England leads the all-time series with Babson 12-11.
• Morin extended his hitting streak to seven games and has recorded at least one hit in ten of the last 11 contests.
• Babson has now won nine consecutive games dating back to April 22.

Up Next
Western New England (21-16) returns home on Wednesday to wrap up its non-conference slate against Elms, while Babson (22-13) hosts Salem State tomorrow.