Baseball Drops Third Straight Road Conference Game

BOSTON, Mass. (April 5, 2022) – The Western New England baseball team fell to the Leopards of Wentworth Institute on Tuesday night after scoring the game's first run, though surrendering eight straight through the middle innings, ultimately falling 11-6. 

Records:

• Western New England: 9-8, 1-3 CCC
• Wentworth Institute: 11-5, 1-2 CCC

How it Happened:

CJ Willis would open the top of the first with a double to left field on a full count to give the Golden Bears a runner in scoring position early. Sean Jamieson would move Willis to third base on a ground out, while Vincent Caccavale would see a passed by go by in his at-bat, scoring Willis to give the Golden Bears an early 1-0 lead. SP Matt Lauria would grab a strikeout for WNE in the opening inning of work, setting the Leopards down with ease. Wentworth would tie the game in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single to left field. The Golden Bears offense would go cold, just as the Leopards would pick up. 

In the bottom of the fourth, Wentworth would open the game with four runs on four hits. Two RBI singles, a throwing error by the Golden Bears and a SAC fly to left field would score the four runs for the Leopards, as they took a 5-1 lead after four innings of play over the Golden Bears. Western New England would leave the bases full in the top of the fifth inning after Aaron Cole, Ben Harrison, and Caccavale would all take walks in the inning, though WNE would be unsuccessful at bringing them to the plate to add any additional runs to their total. Wentworth would take advantage of the missed opportunity by the Golden Bears and turn it into three runs on one hit in the bottom of the 5^th inning. A solo home run for the Leopards would send the WIT to a 6-1 lead. A fielder's choice RBI and a steal of home plate would cap off the three-run inning for Wentworth as they were able to take an 8-1 lead after five minutes of play. 

Western New England would again leave three runners on base in the top of the sixth, though they were able to come away with one run on a Harrison bases loaded walk, though that would be all for WNE in the inning, still down by six runs. Wentworth would double the Golden Bears up in the inning, grabbing two additional runs, one by a way of the long ball to take a 10-2 lead after six innings. 

In the top the of 7^th, WNE would come away with a quick three runs without recording an out after Caccavale would record a walk, followed by a Joe Webber single through the right side of the field. Pinch hitter Ryan Snow would smack a three-run home run to left field, to cut the Golden Bears deficit to five. Another home run in the top of the eighth inning would get the Golden Bears within four runs after CJ Willis would connect for a solo home run to right field, his team leading 6^th of the season. The Golden Bears would ultimately fall by a final score of 11-6 to the Leopards. 

Inside the Lines: 

• CJ Willis went 2/3 in the contest, coming away with his sixth home run of the season. Willis was the only Golden Bear with more than one hit in the ballgame. 
• Ryan Snow picked up a three-run home run in his first career at-bat. 
• The Golden Bears left 13 runners on base, struck out 12 times and walked 11 times in the loss. 
• WNE pitching struck out nine Leopards, though allowed 13 hits and 11 runs (nine earned). 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England returns to Trelease Park on Thursday, April 7 at 3:30 pm to host Keene State College. 
• Wentworth meets with Salve Regina University on Saturday, April 9 for a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 pm.