Lauria Dominates, Late Scoring Lifts WNE to First Shutout Victory of 2023

WALTHAM, Mass. (April 27, 2023) – The Western New England baseball team shutdown the offense of Brandeis University while providing a spark of their own as a late inning rally saw the Golden Bears come away with eight runs in the final three innings, defeating the Judges 9-0 under the Thursday night lights. 

Records:

• Western New England: 22-8-2
• Brandeis University: 5-29

Pitching Records:

• W: Matt Lauria: 5-2
• L: Marc Maestri: 2-5

How it Happened:

Western New England wasted little time getting on the scoreboard after second batter of the game CJ Willis hit career home run number 25 with Western New England and his 11^th home run of the season, three short of tying his single season record with the Golden Bears, giving the Golden Bears a 1-0 lead. The bats from Brandeis would be quiet as SP Matt Lauria would quickly control the game and dominate on the hill. 

Western New England would not score again until the seventh inning as the score remained 1-0 through that time. Kohtaro Shimada would get on base with a hit by a pitch which was followed by a single by Aaron Cole. John Bova would come through with an RBI single to right field, giving Western New England a 2-0 lead. Next batter Paul Villecco would contribute, driving a deep fly ball to left field, scoring Cole, giving WNE a 3-0 lead on the sacrifice fly. While Lauria continued to dominate the hill through seven innings, Western New England would load the bases in the top of the eighth inning and would see Paul Villecco quickly clear those bases with a three RBI double to center field, scoring Aaron Cole, Kohtaro Shimada, and Jake Gerraughty, giving WNE a 6-0 lead. Sean Jamieson would earn a bases loaded walk later in the inning that plated another WNE run as Western New England took a 7-0 lead out of the eighth inning. 

The Golden Bears put together one final gut punch to the Judges in the ninth inning when Aaron Cole doubled to left field and the Golden Bears would score another on a balk as WNE would grab their eighth and ninth runs in the game, sealing the deal for WNE. Andrew Chiodi would lock the game down in the bottom of the ninth after Lauria went the first eight innings, securing the win on the road. 

Inside the Lines:

• The top two hitters in the WNE lineup, Paul Villecco and CJ Willis combined for four hits and five RBIs in the win. 
• Both Kohtaro Shimada and John Bova collected two hits each. 
• Despite leaving 12 runners on base and striking out ten times, Western New England would still be able to crank out ten hits without committing an error in the contest. 
• Matt Lauria improves to 5-2 on the season after going the first eight innings giving up six hits and no runs while walking two and striking out eight of his own. Andrew Chiodi finished the game by striking out one. 
• Steven Simon led Brandeis with two hits. The Judges drop to 2-17 at home this season. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE will head to Gordon College on Friday, April 28 at 12:00 PM and 2:30 Pm for conference doubleheaders. These games were originally scheduled for Saturday, April 29.