MEDFORD, Mass. – Senior Ben Danker (Branford, Conn.) scored from second on an outfield error with two outs in the last of the eighth inning to give Wentworth a 4-3 win in the opener, while freshman Jon Spitz (Hanover, Mass.) delivered a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth of the nightcap, scoring senior Matt Jordan (Concord, N.H.) and giving Wentworth a 3-2 win and a sweep of Roger Williams in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader played at Tufts University.
The visiting hawks scored three times in the opening frame as freshman Matt Pascarella (Milford, Conn.) led off with a double to right and scored a batter later when junior Tim Georgen's sacrifice bunt was overthrown. Junior Trevor Manzi (Beverly, Mass.) drew a walk and both runners moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch, which set the stage for a two-run double off the bat of freshman Mike Thomas (Plainville, Conn.).
Wentworth cut the deficit to 3-1 in the second inning when sophomore Justin Bolla (Groveland, Mass.) hit a one-out double to left center and scored two batters later on an RBI single from sophomore Alex Wong (Lewiston, Maine). However, the Leopards would strand two runners to end the inning, as they had done in the first inning and would do again in the third inning.
The Leopards tied the game at 3-all in the fourth inning as sophomore Ryan Delgado (Wareham, Mass.) led off with a walk and two batters later Jordan would walk, moving Delgado into scoring position. Delgado moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Conner Flisnik (Marcy, N.Y.). After Jordan stole second, he moved to third on an infield single from senior Doug Papuga (Branford, Conn.) and scored on an RBI single from Danker.
Roger Williams threatened to take the lead in the fifth when Georgen reached on an error and Manzi doubled down the right field line. However, Papuga got a strikeout to end the threat. In the home half of the inning the Leopards had a chance to take the lead after senior Mike Diodato (Asbury, N.J.) reached on an error with one out and went to second on a Bolla single. A flyout and groundout ended the threat.
In the seventh inning Roger Williams loaded the bases with two outs, but Papuga induced a groundout to end the threat. With one out in the home half of the inning Bolla tripled to right and Delgado walked and took second on defensive indifference. However, back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning.
The Hawks loaded the bases in the top of the eighth with a single, sacrifice bunt, and a pair of walks, but Papuga got back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning. With two outs in the home half of the inning, Danker reached on an infield single that took a bad hop. Senior Jake McManus (Hopkinton, N.H.) delivered a single to center, but the ball would go past the centerfielder, allowing Danker to score the winning run.
Papuga improved to 4-0 as he earned the complete-game win. He allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits and struck out nine. At the plate, Danker was 4-for-5, while Bolla was 3-for-4 and Flisnik and McManus each had two hits.
Freshman Eric Diffily (North Reading, Mass.) took the loss (0-3), allowing an unearned run on two hits in two third of an inning. Diffily was one of six pitchers Roger Williams used. Sophomore Tony Trafecanty (Franklin, Mass.) started and allowed three runs on six hits and struck out three in 3.2 innings. Six different players had hits while Thomas drove in two runs.
A pitcher's duel between Wentworth junior Adam Farrar (Newport, Vt.) and Roger Williams freshman Sean Boyle (Arlington, Mass.) through the first three innings yielded no runs and a combined two hits. However, in the top of the fourth the Hawks took a 2-0 lead when Manzi led off with a double and went to third on a wild pitch. He would score a batter later on an RBI single from senior Zach Porter (Middleboro, Mass.). Back-to-back singles from freshman Chris Ford (Plainville, Mass.) and sophomore Matt Swensen (Charlton, Mass.) loaded the bases and freshman T.J. Oliver (Manchester, Vt.) drew a four-pitch walk to drive in a run. Farrar would get a strikeout and a groundout to stop the Hawks.
Wentworth tied the game in the fifth inning on a two-run single off the bat of Jordan. McManus led off with a single and with one out Bolla walked placing runners on first and second. Delgado delivered a single to left to load the bases and with two outs, Jordan delivered the game-tying hit. Spitz delivered a single which attempted to score Jordan, but he was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
The Hawks had a chance in the sixth, but would have a runner thrown out taking too wide of a turn at third and would have a runner picked off to end the inning.
In the last of the seventh, Delgado drew a two-out walk and junior Kevin McKenzie (Arlington, Mass.) delivered a pinch hit single to right. Jordan would walk to load the bases, but a groundout ended the threat. An inning later Wentworth had runners on second and third with one out, but could not push the winning run home.
With two outs in the top of the ninth, Swensen reached on an error but would be erased a batter later on an inning-ending force out. A lineout and a flyout left the Leopards down to their last batter of the ninth inning and Jordan extended the inning when he reached on an error and would steal second. Spitz laced a single to center on a 1-1 count, scoring Jordon and giving the hosts the 3-2 win.
Farrar allowed two runs on seven hits while walking just one and striking out four. At the plate Spitz and McManus each had two hits, while Jordan drove in two runs.
Diffily (0-4) took the loss, allowing an unearned run on two hits in 1.2 innings of work. Boyle lasted 6.2 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out seven. Manzi and Swensen each had two hits for the Hawks.
Winners of seven in a row, Wentworth (14-6, 7-1) hosts Western New England Sunday at Noon in a doubleheader. Roger Williams falls to 10-15 (5-5) and is at Nichols, also on Sunday.
