Baseball Honors Seniors, Splits with Suffolk University in CCC Play

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (April 23, 2022) – The Western New England baseball team was able to sneak by the Rams of Suffolk University in game one of a doubleheader before dropping game two of the twinball to earn an even split with the Rams on Saturday afternoon from sunny Trelease Park. 

Records:

• Western New England: 14-12-1 (5-5 CCC)
• Suffolk University: 16-15 (2-8 CCC)

Game 1: Western New England 6, Suffolk University 5

In a back-and-forth opening game, the Western New England baseball team honored their seniors and graduate students prior to first pitch. WNE was able to get an early lead off an RBI ground out from Joe Webber that scored Cody Waterbury, giving WNE a 1-0 lead. Quickly after the ground out, Aaron Cole would step up to the fish a crack a two RBI single to center field to give Western New England an early 3-0 lead to work with. 

The Rams came back quickly, however, scoring one run in the top of the second on an RBI double to right center by Timothy McCarthy which scored Luke Harder to get the Rams on the scoreboard for the first time on the afternoon. Suffolk would tie the game in the top of the third inning after Joe Ward knocked in Jonny Gilbridge on a single to left field. Suffolk would do more damage in the inning after Luke Harder hit a SAC fly to left field, scoring Ward and evening the score at three. 

Suffolk would come all the way back from three runs down and take their first lead of the game in the top of the fifth inning when Luke Harder was able to drive in Joe Ward on an RBI groundout. Western New England let the Rams hold the lead for all of one-half inning before Aaron Cole singled through the left side, scoring Joe Webber and evening the score at four. Western New England would flip the script and take a lead on the last play of the fifth when Cody Waterbury grounded out, scoring Aaron Cole and giving Western New England a 6-4 lead. WNE starter Kevin Hummer went the first six innings giving up eight hits and four runs, three earned, while walking two and striking out five Rams. Garret Roberts went the first five innings giving up eight hits and five runs while walking seven and striking out six. 

Suffolk would add one run in the top of the 8^th inning when Joe Ward came away with an RBI single to right centerfield to get the Rams back within one run of the lead. The Rams would leave it up to the 9^th inning to complete the comeback, though Jared Kuryan would shut the door on the Rams, sending Suffolk down one-two-three in the 9^th, securing the win and picking up the save for the Golden Bears, moving WNE to 5-5 in conference play. 

Around the Horn: 

• Aaron Cole went 4/4 on the afternoon, picking up three RBIs in the win. CJ Willis collected two hits and scored a run. 
• WNE was walked seven times in the ballgame, coming away with 11 runners left on base. 
• Suffolk University also left 11 on base, while striking out eight times. 
• The WNE bullpen went three innings, giving up just three hits and one unearned run while striking out three. 

Game 2: Suffolk University 16, Western New England 2

The Rams failed to get any hits in the top of the first inning, though came away with three runs after Golden Bear pitching surrendered three walks and three hit by pitches to score the opening three runs of the contest for Suffolk. Western New England would get their bats rolling quickly after CJ Willis and Ben Harrison would single through both the left and right sides, putting two aboard with one out in the inning. WNE would fail to score, coming away with two ground balls to the pitcher to end the threat. Kyle Roberts would dial up a 4-3 double play in the top of the second inning to get out of a small jam and send the offense back to the plate for WNE. Paul Villecco would come away with a two out double to right field, though WNE would again fail to score with runners in scoring position. 

Suffolk came away with another three-run inning in the top of the third after two singles and a sacrifice fly would give the Rams a 6-0 lead. The Golden Bears would load the bases in the bottom half of the inning after Cody Waterbury walked, a CJ Willis single to left field, and a Ben Harrison walk. Western New England would again fail to score after two pop outs and a fly out would end the inning in silence for the Golden Bears. 

Suffolk would come alive in the top of the 6^th and tag Golden Bear pitching for nine runs to take a giant 15-0 lead. The Golden Bears would be unable to climb out of the giant hole, falling in seven innings by a final score of 16-2. 

Around the Diamond:

• Joe Webber hit a solo home run in the contest while Sean Jamieson singled in a run in the final inning of the contest. 
• WNE pitching walked nine batters and surrendered 16 earned runs. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England meets Wentworth Institute on Tuesday, April 26 for a CCC contest at Trelease Park at 3:30 pm. 
• Suffolk University plays host to Gordon College on the same date at 4:00 pm.