Baseball Unable to Overcome Early Deficit, Leave 10 On Base in 3-2 Loss at No. 13 Eastern Connecticut

MANSFIELD, Conn. (May 4, 2023) – The Western New England baseball team started off in an early hole on Thursday evening, seeing the Warriors of Eastern Connecticut State University score three times in the opening two frame whole the Golden Bears left ten runners on base in the 3-2 loss. 

Records:

• Western New England: 24-11-2
• No. 13 Eastern Connecticut: 29-9

Pitching Records:

• W: Dylan Scudder: 5-1
• L: Matt Lauria: 5-3
• Sv: Nolan Lincoln: 1

How it Happened:

A ground out to first base would score the first run of the game for the Warriors after two singles in the first three batters for the Warriors would each whole Ryan Parent would grab the RBI ground out to give the 13^thranked team in NCAA Division III the 1-0 lead off WNE starter Matt Lauria. Sean Jamieson would reach on a single while Aaron Cole would get aboard on an error by the Warriors third baseman in the second inning though a quick double play would end the inning on Western New England. 

Eastern Connecticut would score twice in the bottom of the second after Tiernan Lynch smacked a double to left center field while Zach Donahue singled to right field, giving the Warriors a quick 2-0 lead through two innings of play. 

Both starting pitchers would dial it in through the middle innings, not allowing much offense to commence. CJ Willis would lead off with a double to left field in the top of the fourth inning while Aaron Cole would single to shortstop though WNE would leave two runners on the bases to close the inning. 

The Golden Bears would come around to score in the top of the sixth inning after the Warriors bullpen would put WNE on base by a way of the walk. CJ Willis, Cody Waterbury, and Sean Jamieson would all be walked to start the sixth while Kohtaro Shimada would follow suit, as Eastern Connecticut would allow their first run of the game. Jamieson would come around to score on a wild pitch, cutting the Warriors lead to just a run. ECSU would get out of the inning with allowing two runs on no hits while WNE left two runners on base. 

With the top of the order due up in the ninth for WNE, the Golden Bears fell short of a rally, seeing Eastern's Nolan Lincoln earn the four out save, striking out two Golden Bears in the process to pick up the 3-2 win for the Warriors over the Golden Bears. 

Around the Horn:

• Western New England would be unable to convert on their chances, leaving ten runners on base on the evening. 
• SP Matt Lauria shined, despite giving up three runs in the first two innings, going the distance, giving up seven hits and three earned runs while walking two and striking out one. 
• CJ Willis collected two hits for WNE while Matt Malcom collected two hits for the Warriors, the only two players to record multi-hit efforts in the contest.
• WNE struck out nine times in the game while also being walked seven times. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE baseball will close out the 2023 regular season on Saturday, May 6 at 12:00 and 3:00 PM to host No. 5 Endicott College for playoff seeding implications.