Bantams Styme Golden Bears in Non-Conference Action

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (April 30, 2023) – The Western New England baseball team fell at home for just the third time this season, dropping a 5-1 contest to the visiting Bantams of Trinity (Conn.) University as the bats of Western New England would be slowed in the important middle innings while the Bantams would put together three important runs early to gain edge and take down the Golden Bears on Sunday afternoon. 

Records:

• Western New England: 23-10-2
• Trinity (Conn.) University – 20-12

Pitching Records:

W: Michael Aceto: 4-2

L: TJ Brzezicki: 1-1

How it Happened:

It would be a bullpen day for the Golden Bears as just one of their eight pitches would receive more than one inning of work on a cloudy Sunday afternoon. WNE SP Robert Zawacki would get out of a bases loaded jam early in the contest as Western New England would quickly respond to the big out to start the game. Paul Villecco would waste little time, slapping a triple down the right field line to open the game while Cody Waterbury would deliver the RBI single into left field to give the Golden Bears the quick 1-0 lead. 

Trinity would come back with a run in the top of the third inning after Alex Slezak took the rubber for WNE. Andrew Tuozzolo would rip an RBI single to right field, giving the Bantams their first run of the game as the Bantams collected two hits in the inning of Slezak. Trinity would come around for two runs in the top of the fourth inning after an RBI ground out and a stolen home base would pick up two more runs for the Bantams off just one hit in the inning as Trinity quickly took a 3-1 lead. 

The Golden Bears high powered offense would be slowed by Trinity's SP Michael Aceto, who threw 63 pitches on the day, going five innings giving up three hits and a run while walking one. Tyler Griffin would continue the dominate pitching for the Bantams, as Trinity did not allow a hit to Western New England from the fourth inning to the eighth inning, holding the usual hot bats of WNE quiet. 

Western New England would try to rally in the bottom of the eighth, trailing 4-1 after EJ Dudley would smack a single to left field to lead off the inning before getting bounced out on a double play. John Bova would attempt a two out rally, sailing a long ball into left field for a double while Paul Villecco would be walked, putting two runners on with two outs, however, WNE would be unable to score after a fly out would end the inning. 

Trinity would pick up an insurance marker in the top of the ninth inning on a SAC fly while Western New England would see three hits come about in the bottom of the ninth, filling the bases with just one out, however, WNE would again see the dominant pitching of Tyler Griffin and the Bantams shut down the bats, and close out the game with a 5-1 win for Trinity, sending Western New England to their second straight loss for just the second time this season. 

Inside the Lines:

• Both Cody Waterbury and John Bova collected two hits, collecting half the hits for the Golden Bears on the day. 
• All but one starter for Trinity had a hit in the game as the Bantams collected 11 hits off eight WNE pitchers in the game. 
• WNE struck out four Bantams on the day, led by Troy Donohue, who collected two strikeouts in two innings of work. 
• All 11 hits for the Bantams were singles while two of WNE's hits were for extra bases. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE returns to CCC play on Tuesday, May 2 at 7:00 PM as they take on Wentworth Institute of Technology in a crucial CCC matchup.