Eight Run 7th Inning Gives Baseball First Conference Win of the Season

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 30, 2022) – The Western New England baseball team pumped our eight runs in a big seventh inning to come back from four runs down and take their first CCC win of the season over the Nichols College Bison on Wednesday afternoon.

Records:

• Western New England: 8-5, 1-0 CCC
• Nichols College: 5-10, 0-3 CCC

How it Happened:

The Golden Bears and the Bison played four scoreless innings as a rapid pace game elapsed in just under an hour. Starter for the Golden Bears Matt Lauria and Bison starter Ben Weber set down the first round of batters without any trouble. Western New England would put two on with two out in the bottom of the first, though were unsuccessful in scoring any runs. Lauria allowed just one Bison hit through four innings of work. 

In the top of the 5^th, Nichols College would put together the game's first run after Issac Blanford fiew out to CF to force in a run on the sacrifice fly. The Golden Bears would continue to be set down, as WNE would collect four hits through five innings on the diamond. The Bison would add a two-run single in the top of the 6^th when Will Kleinhenz knocked the baseball into left field to score two, which was then followed up by a Victor Valentin infield single that scored Kleinhenz, giving Nichols a 4-0 lead. 

Western New England would get their first run of the game in the bottom half of the 6^th inning when an error by the Bison's catcher would lead to CJ Willis stealing a base and scoring on the misthrow, giving WNE a 4-1 deficit. Matt Vigliotti would come in relief for Western New England in the top of the 6^th and shut down the Bison from there. Western New England would come alive with their bats in the bottom of the 7^th inning, planting an eight spot on the board to take their first lead of the contest. 

Aaron Cole led WNE off with a single to center field which would end the night for Ben Weber. The bullpen for the Bison would faulter, as a hit by pitch and walk would send the bases loaded with one out in the inning. Western New England would get their next two runs of the contest on wild pitches by the Bison, seeing the score jump from 4-1 to 4-3. Western New England would take the lead on a two RBI single from Ben Harrison. Vincent Caccavale would add to the scoring parade as he was able to rope an RBI double to left field which was then followed up by a bloop single into left field by Joe Webber to score two runs for WNE to give the Golden Bears a 9-4 lead. 

The Bison would come back for a run in the top of the 8^th on a SAC fly, which would send the score to 9-5. In the 9^th, WNE closer Jared Kuryan would enter the ballgame and shut the door on Nichols, getting three outs to secure the win for the Golden Bears, as they picked up their first conference win of the season by a final score of 9-5. 

Around the Diamond:

• Both CJ Willis and Joe Webber had three hits in the ballgame for WNE. Willis and Webber combined for three RBIs for WNE. 
• Starter Matt Lauria went the first 5.2 innings, giving up seven hits and four runs, three earned, while walking one and striking out three. 
• Relief pitchers Matt Vigliotti (1-1), and Jared Kuryan pitched the final 3.1 innings, giving up just three hits to the Bison and one earned run while walking two and striking out one.
• Western New England swiped four bases on the afternoon, with Willis coming away with two. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE returns to Trelease Park tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 pm for a non-conference game with UMass-Boston. 
• Nichols College is also back in action tomorrow, traveling to Wesleyan (Conn.) University at 4:00 pm.