Baseball Uses Big Fifth Inning to Hold Off Elimination Versus Suffolk

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (May 12, 2022) – The Western New England baseball team got off to a rocky start in the CCC Tournament's Elimination Game, falling behind to the visiting Suffolk University Rams 4-0 after two innings, though were able to rebound and come away with a big seven run fifth inning, which included yet another home run from CJ Willis, sending the Golden Bears to an eventual 13-5 win over Suffolk. 

Records:

• Western New England: 18-19-1
• Suffolk University: 23-20

How it Happened:

Western New England would see the Rams rip the cover off the ball in the first inning as the Rams first two batters came away with booming singles to open the contest. After SP Kevin Hummer was able to get a pop out for the first out of the game, the Rams came away with three straight RBI singles, two through the left side of the infield and one straight back up the middle, giving Suffolk an early 3-0 lead. WNE would get out of the inning with a line out and pop out, though five hits in the inning would pave the way for the Rams. Western New England would go quickly in the bottom of the first giving the Rams another chance at the sticks. 

Suffolk would tack on another run in the second after a leadoff double by Jonny Gilbridge, which was then followed by a Christian Seariac sacrifice fly to center field, scoring another Rams run, giving Suffolk a 4-0 lead. Suffolk's four run edge would only last for a few batters more as Western New England found their offensive game in the bottom of the fourth when Aaron Cole led by with an RBI double and would advance to third on a miscue by the Rams catcher, putting Cole on third with no outs. Ben Harrison's fielder's choice would get the first run on the board for Western New England, scoring Cole in the process. Sean Jamieson would collect an RBI groundout for WNE, cutting Suffolk's four run lead in half. John Bova would come around to walk in the inning, scoring another run for the Golden Bears with the bases loaded. The Golden Bears would score three in the inning, sending the score to 4-3 in favor of the Rams. 

The offensive game for Western New England would come back around in the fifth inning, this time, sending all nine batters in the order to the plate at least once. Aaron Cole led off with another double, this time to right field, which was then followed by a two-run home run to left field by Western New England's single season home run record breaker CJ Willis, giving WNE their first lead of the game at 5-4. The Golden Bears were not done there, scoring an additional five runs in the inning. Kohtaro Shimada would come around with a single through the left side of the infield, scoring Joe Webber and re-loading the bases with just one gone in the inning. Western New England continued to rough up the bullpen for Suffolk as Cody Waterbury would pick up an RBI on a sacrifice fly, followed by an Aaron Cole two RBI single to right field, scoring runs six and seven for WNE, as the Golden Bears took a big 10-4 lead after five innings of play. 

Western New England starter Kevin Hummer would settle in after giving up six hits in his first two innings of work. Hummer would give up just two hits to the Rams in his final five innings on the hill. The Golden Bears would pick up Hummer one final time on offense in the seventh inning, coming around with three additional runs to lead 13-4. Cody Waterbury would blast a line drive single to shortstop, securing all nine batters in the starting lineup with at least one base hit in the ball game. Waterbury's single scored Paul Villecco, after Villecco singled to lead off the inning. Aaron Cole would keep swinging his hot bat, coming away with another single which would score Waterbury on multiple miscues by the Suffolk defense. CJ Willis put one final shot into the Rams, coming away with an RBI single to left field, giving Western New England the nine-run lead. In the eight, Ryan Searles would come in for relief and shut down Suffolk, going two innings giving up one unearned run while walking two and striking out one. Western New England would win the contest, ending Suffolk's season and continue play into Friday's CCC Tournament. 

Around the Diamond:

• Right fielder Aaron Cole went 4/5 on the afternoon scoring three runs for Western New England while driving in two. The sophomore now has a five-game hitting streak and has hit .523 at the plate over his last five games played. 
• CJ Willis and Cody Waterbury combined for five RBIs and three hits in the ball game, with Willis smashing home run number 13 on the season in the win. 
• All nine batters in the Western New England order came away with at least one hit, three coming away with multi-hit efforts. The Golden Bears struck out just one time in 24 outs. 
• SP Kevin Hummer went the first seven innings throwing 108 pitches, giving up eight hits and four runs while walking and striking out two each. 
• Suffolk saw just two players collect multi-hit efforts and left 12 runners on base in the contest.  Johnny Gilbridge smacked two doubles for the Rams. 
• WNE scored 13 straight runs from the fourth inning to the seventh inning before Suffolk could tack on just one in the ninth.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England survives elimination and will play in another elimination game tomorrow, Friday May 13 at 3:00 pm at four seeded Nichols College. The winner of that contest will continue in the CCC tournament with the loser being eliminated from playoff contention. 
• Suffolk sees their season come to a close with a 23-20 record. The Rams defeated Gordon College 9-3 on Monday in the play in game to make the CCC Tournament before bowing out with loses to Salve Regina and Western New England.