WENHAM, Mass. – Sophomore Alex Wong (Lewiston, Maine) went 3-for-4, including a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning that put Wentworth ahead for good as the Leopards snapped Western New England's nine-game win streak with a 12-9 win in game two of a The Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader. The Golden Bears broke open a 2-all tie with 13 runs over the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to take the opener, 15-4.
The Golden Bears took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second, thanks to an RBI single from senior Ryan Dudzinski (Bristol, R.I.) and an RBI double off the bat of junior Mike Taylor (Andover, Mass.). The Leopards cut the deficit to 2-1 in the home half of the inning when senior Jake McManus (Hopkinton, N.H.), who hit a one-out double, scored when junior Justin Bolla (Groveland, Mass.) reached on a throwing error. An inning later Wentworth tied the game at 2-all on an RBI double from senior Doug Papuga (Branford, Conn.), which scored junior Conner Flisnik (Marcy, N.Y.).
Western New England scored four runs in the fourth inning as sophomore Matt Anthonis (Guilford, Conn.) and classmate Mike Rubino (Northford, Conn.) each had two-run singles and tacked on four more in the fifth on a balk and RBI singles from sophomore Kyle McKelvey (Schenectady, N.Y.) and Anthonis, and when Rubino reached on a fielder's choice.
The Leopards score a single run in the fifth when sophomore Ryan Delgado (Wareham, Mass.) hit a leadoff double and went to third on a groundout before scoring on a senior Matt Jordan (Concord, N.H.) groundout. Western New England added five in the top of the sixth, thanks in part to a McKelvey RBI single before a pinch-hit RBI single from Wentworth sophomore Tom Moules (Peabody, Mass.) in the last of the seventh rounded out the scoring.
Senior Matt Rogers (Portsmouth, R.I.) improved to 5-1 on the year, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and striking out five in six innings of work. Sophomore Mike Lospinuso (West Islip, N.Y.) allowed a run on two hits in the seventh inning. Offensively Anthonis and Dudzinski had three hits apiece with Anthonis also driving in three runs. Taylor and McKelvey had two hits and three runs scored apiece.
Freshman Ben Lewis (Middletown, R.I.) took the loss (1-2), allowing nine runs (eight earned) on seven hits while walking five and striking out three. Six different players had hits for the Leopards, while Jordan, Moules, and Papuga drove in runs.
The Golden Bears used a pair of walks and a single to load the bases with no one out to start the nightcap and would eventually score four times. Wentworth countered with three of its own in the home half of the inning, as McManus, Bolla and Delgado drove in runs – all with two outs.
Western New England increased the lead to 5-3 in the second when Anthonis led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a sac fly by Rubino. The Golden Bears made it a 6-3 game an inning later when Taylor hit a sac fly, scoring senior Jason Leclerc (Chicopee, Mass.) who led off with a single. In the home half of the inning the Leopards made it a 6-4 game when Bolla's infield single scored senior Mike Diodato (Asbury, N.J.), who was hit by a pitch with one out.
After the Golden Bears took a 7-4 lead in the fourth on a senior Tony Trubia (Tolland, Conn.) RBI single, which scored Anthonis, Wentworth used a two run fourth to cut the lead to 7-6. Jordan hit an RBI double, scoring junior Joe Meucci (West Hartford, Conn.) and Papuga would single in Jordan.
Bolla led off the fifth by reaching on an error and went to second when Delgado was hit by a pitch. Meucci had a bunt single which loaded the bases who no outs. Wong delivered the go-ahead runs on a single up the middle, scoring Bolla and Delgado. With two outs the Leopards had runners on second and third but a strikeout ended the inning.
With two outs in the sixth inning, Bolla hit a single through the left side and went to second on a Delgado single. Meucci would reach on a dropped popup, scoring Bolla. Delgado, who went to third on the play, scored on a failed pickoff attempt of Meucci. A single by Wong moved Meucci to third, who would score on a wild pitch. An RBI double by Jordan scored Wong and completed the four-run inning.
The Golden Bears scored twice in the top of the seventh off of Jordan as Anthonis delivered an RBI single and McKelvey scored on a groundout.
Sophomore Ryan DeCotis (Nashua, N.H.), who worked two-third of an inning in the first game, picked up the win (2-2) after pitching 2.1 scoreless innings and walking just one. Bolla and Wong were each 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Jordan, Delgado, and Meucci each had two hits in the win.
Junior Mike Lawlor (Windsor, Conn.) allowed four unearned runs on four hits and struck out two batters in 1.2 innings. Anthonis, Leclerc, and senior Andrew Fatse (Hampden, Mass.) each had two hits for the Golden Bears, while Trubia drove in a pair of runs.
Wentworth stands at 15-7 overall and 8-2 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference play. The Leopards are at Eastern Nazarene for two games on Tuesday. Western New England stands at 22-7 overall (16-2) and hosts crosstown rival Springfield tomorrow afternoon.
