Gerraughty Launches First Career Home Run, Golden Bears Thump Wentworth, 17-3

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (April 11, 2023) – The Western New England baseball team picked up their fourth straight conference win this afternoon, defeating the Leopards of Wentworth Institute of Technology by a final score of 17-3 in seven innings. The blue and gold were led by Jake Gerraughty, who collected his first career home run and CJ Willis who was a perfect 5/5 at the plate. 

Records:

• Western New England: 16-5-1, 4-2 CCC
• Wentworth Institute: 1-20, 0-8 CCC

Pitching Records:

W: Jacob Hobart: 3-1

L: Brandon Sullivan: 0-5

How it Happened:

The Golden Bears used a huge second inning of the contest and did not look back, putting up an eight spot to get the game rolling. After Jack Loftus led off with a double down the right field line, WNE's Jake Gerraughty singled to center field to get WNE a 1-0 lead. After an error put Kohtaro Shimada aboard while scoring another WNE run, John Bova collected a rare two RBI sacrifice fly to give the Golden Bears a 4-0 lead. CJ Willis would rip a single in the inning for his second hit of the game and would score on an RBI single by Sean Jamieson. Kohtaro Shimada would finish the scoring in the second, getting a two RBI single to left field as Western New England would take an 8-0 lead out of the second. 

Wentworth would fight back for one run in the top of the third inning before Western New England would get two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning when Jake Loftus was hit by a pitch before Jake Gerraughty sent a big fly to right field, collecting his first career home run, giving WNE a 10-1 lead over the Leopards. The offense would come all from WNE from there, as SP Jacob Hobart was able to settle in and toss a full five innings in the win. Hobart would finish the day going five innings giving up five hits and three runs, two earned, while walking three and striking out four. 

In the fifth, CJ Willis would rip a double to center field, getting his fourth hit of the game while he would come around to score on a wild pitch to extend WNE's lead. Aaron Cole would pitch in with two RBIs on a single to left field that scored Jamieson and Cody Waterbury. The Golden Bears would close out the game with a four run sixth inning after runs from Paul Villecco, CJ Willis, Jake Gerraughty, and Vincent Caccavale would produce the massive 14 run lead that Western New England would defeat Wentworth by, winning 17-3. 

Around the Horn:

• Jake Gerraughty went ¾ at the plate, scoring three runs and producing four RBIs to help WNE in the win. 
• Kohtaro Shimada plated a season high five RBIs for the Golden Bears while scoring a run. 
• CJ Willis went a perfect 5/5 at the plate in the win, scoring three times and collecting on extra base hit. The sophomore raises his average to a team best .433.
• TJ Brzezicki and Andrew Chiodi closed out the Leopards out of the bullpen, tossing two innings without giving up a run while Chiodi struck out one. 
• EJ Dudley collected his first hit of the season in pinch hit duties in the sixth inning. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE heads to Mackenzie Stadium on Wednesday, April 12 at 5:00 PM in Holyoke, Massachusetts to take on Elms College.