AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Freshman Owen Swanson (New Milford, Conn.) laced a one-out single to right field in the bottom of the seven inning to snap a 1-all tie and lift the Wentworth Institute of Technology baseball team to a season-opening sweep over New England College at Lake Myrtle Sports Park. The Leopards had taken the first game, 17-6, thanks to an 11-run sixth inning
Game One: Wentworth 17, New England College 6
Wentworth took a 2-0 lead in its first at bat thanks in part to a pair of New England College errors and a wild pitch. Senior Christian Ferri (Bloomfield, N.J.) led off with a single to right center and went to second when classmate Jordan Burst (Jackson, N.J.) grounded out. Junior Tyler Weninger (Chandler, Ariz.) reached on a throwing error, which allowed Ferri to score and Weninger went to second on the second miscue of the inning before moving to third on a wild pitch. Senior Jimmy Temte (Northborough, Mass.) walked and stole second, which was followed by a walk from sophomore Jake Smith (Orange, Conn.) to load the bases. Sophomore Ross Golebiewski (Lyme, Conn.) struck out, however on the wild pitch, Weninger.
The Leopards plated two more runs in the top of the second to take a 4-0 lead. Ferri hit a two-out double down the left field line and moved to third on a wild pitch. Ferri scored when Burst singled him in. After Burst stole second, Weninger doubled him home.
New England College cut the lead in the half in the third inning as freshman Aneury Lana (Boston, Mass.) drew a leadoff walk and would come around to score on a pair of Wentworth errors on the same play. Sophomore Evan Delaney (Hadley, Mass.) singled in freshman Jameson Carey (Amherst, Mass.) to make it 4-2. In the home half of the fifth inning the Pilgrims evened the score on back-to-back triples from freshman Stanley Vargas (Boston, Mass.) and Delaney with Delaney coming around to score on a wild pitch.
After a popup to start the sixth inning, Wentworth drew four straight walks and a hit by pitch, which resulted in a pair of runs and Smith hit a two-run single to left. Golebiewski had a two-run double, sophomore Matt Smith (Horseheads, N.Y.) had a sacrifice fly, and Burst and Weninger each had two-run doubles.
Vargas and Delaney had RBI singles in the bottom of the sixth before Ferri and sophomore Steve Hall (Derry, N.H.) each had RBI in the top of the seventh.
Sophomore Leo Coehlo (Marlborough, Mass.) picked up his first collegiate victory, going 1.2 innings in in relief, allowing a pair of runs on three hits. He came on in relief of senior Aaron Denis (Dover, N.H.) who pitched 4.1 innings. Ferri was 3-for-4 while Burst, Weninger, Jake Smith, and Golebiewski each had two hits. Weninger drove in four runs and Burst drove in three.
Carey took the loss. Delaney had three hits and three RBI.
Game Two: Wentworth 2, New England College 1
While game one was a long, drawn out affair, the nightcap was a pitcher's duel between Wentworth sophomore Ryan Obin (Plymouth, Mass.) and New England College senior Vincent Backert (Shelton, Conn.). The first hit of the game came on an infield single from senior Lonnie Cohen (Teaneck, N.J.) to lead off the third inning.
The Leopards took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning as Ferri led off with a single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt from Burst. Weninger grounded out and moved Ferri to third and he came around to score on a double from Temte. The Pilgrims left the tying run on second in the fifth inning and Wentworth, looking to add to its lead, left a pair of runners on base in the sixth.
New England College tied the game in the top of the seventh as the first two runners reached. After a double play moved Carey to third, Backert hit a ground-rule double to center. After a wild pitch, he was stranded at third.
Jake Smith led off the bottom of the seventh by reaching on an error and was lifted for sophomore pinch runner Anthony de la Cruz (Lynn, Mass.). Golebiewski bunted de la Cruz to second and he went to third on a wild pitch, setting the stage for Swanson's heroics as he drove a 2-1 pitch to right field.
Obin earned the win, allowing a run on five hits and striking out seven. Five different players had hits for the Leopards. Backert, who took the loss, had two hits for the Pilgrims.
Wentworth faces King's (Pa.) on Tuesday.
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