Hobart Goes Seven, Villecco, Willis Homer Each in First CCC Win of 2023

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (April 4, 2023) – The Western New England baseball team got their first Commonwealth Coast Conference victory of the season on Tuesday afternoon, defeating the Bison of Nichols College from a sunny Trelease Park. WNE SP Jacob Hobart went the first seven innings while Paul Villecco and CJ Willis contributed with a home run each as the Golden Bears defeated Nichols 9-3. 

Records:

• Western New England: 13-4-1, 1-2 CCC
• Nichols College: 4-14, 1-3 CCC

Pitching Records:

W: Jacob Hobart: 2-1

L: Aidan Whitten: 0-5

How it Happened:
Western New England's Paul Villecco wasted little time to get the Golden Bears on the board after a first pitch home run to right field gave the blue and gold and early 1-0 lead. Nichols College starter Aidan Whitten would struggle to produce outs after CJ Willis would be hit by a pitch and advance on a wild pitch while next better, Cody Waterbury, slammed a triple to center field, scoring Willis, giving WNE a 2-0 lead. WNE would place Jack Loftus on base before chasing Whitten from the game. WNE would produce one final run in the bottom of the first after Aaron Cole grabbed an RBI ground out, giving the Golden Bears a 3-0 lead after one inning of play. A one-two-three inning from WNE starting pitcher Jacob Hobart in the second inning would set the Bison down quickly. 

In the bottom of the second inning WNE would get two on base without recording a hit as John Bova walked, and Paul Villecco would be hit by a pitch before CJ Willis hit his seventh home run of the season to center field to give WNE a 6-0 lead through two innings of play. After a quick third inning where two double plays were turned, one by each team, the Bison would grab their first two runs of the game in the top of the fourth when Jonny Marasco hit a home run to left field as Nichols cut into the six-run lead of WNE. Quickly, the Golden Bears would answer with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning when Paul Villecco tripled to right center field, which would be followed by a single down the left field line by CJ Willis would get WNE eight runs on the board. 

WNE would put their ninth run of the game on the board in the bottom of the sixth after a misplay by the relief pitcher Richard Pignone of Nichols, attempting a pickoff but threw the ball away which scored Villecco, his fourth run of the game, giving the Golden Bears a 9-2 lead. Hobart would set down the Bison in order in the top of the seventh, throwing 86 pitches on the afternoon. Troy Donohue would shut down the eighth inning in order while the Bison would see one run cross the plate in the top of the ninth, but it would not be enough as Andrew Melone would get a ground out to second base to close out the ball game, sending the Golden Bears to their first CCC win of the season, defeating Nichols College 9-3. 

Around the Horn:

• Jacob Hobart shined for WNE, going the first seven innings, giving up eight hits and two runs, both earned while walking one and striking out three. 
• Paul Villecco went 2/4 at the plate, scoring a game high four runs for WNE while collecting two RBIs.
• Sophomore CJ Willis ripped his 21^st career home run of his short career, adding to his program record on the day. Willis finished the day 2/3 at the plate, collecting four RBIs and scoring two runs. 
• Cody Waterbury and Aaron Cole also picked up RBIs for WNE in the win. 
• Brad Ellis led the way for the Bison, going 3/4 at the plate, scoring a run. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will be on the road for the next three games, visiting Keene State College on Thursday April 6 at 3:00 PM while okaying their next CCC series on the road at Suffolk University on Saturday, April 8 at 12:00 & 3:00 PM.