Villecco, Waterbury Pick Up 2 RBIs Each, WNE Baseball Avoid Elimination in 7-2 Win over Suffolk

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (May 11, 2023) – The Western New England baseball team cracked just five hits for the second consecutive day in CCC Tournament play, though today was enough as the Golden Bears recorded a 7-2 win over Suffolk University to escape elimination in the CCC Tournament and move into day three on Friday afternoon. 

Records:

• Western New England: 25-14-2
• Suffolk University: 13-22

Pitching Records:

W: Kevin Hummer: 5-2

L: George Breslin: 3-7

How it Happened:

The Rams came away with the best chance at a run early in the game as the bats would stay quiet. After WNE SP Kevin Hummer would grab two quick outs in the top of the second, Max Iorio would single and advance on a wild pitch while Corey Frassica would walk and advance on a passed ball, putting runners on second and third though Hummer would roar back, getting Timothy McCarthy to strike out, leaving a zero on the board for the Rams. 

In the fourth, Western New England would grab their first hit of the game and first run of the game when Sean Jamieson hit a no-doubt home run to right field, giving Western New England the 1-0 lead. Suffolk would answer in the top of the fifth after Harry Painter collected a single to right field, scoring Garret Roberts, evening the score at one all. Western New England would come through in the bottom of the fifth to break the game wide open after Aaron Cole would lead off with a single to left field, followed by two walks by Rams starter George Bresslin assessed to Kohtaro Shimada and Jake Gerraughty. Paul Villecco would single down the right field line with the bases loaded to score two runs, giving WNE a 3-1 lead. John Bova would grab an RBI sacrifice fly, while Cody Waterbury would bring in two more runs for WNE to give the Golden Bears a 6-1 lead. The inning would come to a close with a Jack Loftus triple to score Western New England's last run of the inning, giving the Golden Bears a 7-1 lead. 

Suffolk would respond with one more run in the top of the sixth when Max Iorio smacked a home run to right field. From there, the WNE bullpen would take over the game and shut down Suffolk as Demitri Boulas would work two innings for WNE giving up no hits and no runs while striking out one. Andrew Chiodi would close the door on the Rams season, pitching the final inning, giving up one hit and striking out three to end the Rams hopes of advancing in the CCC Tournament.  WNE would come away with the 7-2 victory. 

Around the Horn:

• SP Kevin Hummer went six innings giving up six hits and two runs while walking three and striking out seven Rams. 
• The WNE bullpen finished the final three innings, giving up just one hit to Suffolk while striking out four. 
• Paul Villecco and Cody Waterbury collected two RBIs each, while five different Golden Bears recorded hits in the win. 
• Max Iorio led the Rams offensively, going 2/4 with an RBI. Out of the bullpen, Caleb Piwnicki slammed the door on Western New England, going three innings giving up just one walk and struck out two. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE, the five seed in the CCC Tournament, will head to Endicott College on Friday, May 12, as the Gulls will be the host site for two games as WNE will play fourth seeded Roger Williams University at 3:00 PM.