Baseball Shuts Out SUNY Poly Twice

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology baseball team ran its win streak to three games with a doubleheader sweep over SUNY Poly. The Leopards pounded out 16 runs on 21 hits to win, 16-0, in the opener and completed the sweep with a complete-game shutout from senior Aaron Denis (Dover, N.H.) in a 3-0 win in the nightcap.

Game 1:  Wentworth 16, SUNY Poly 0
The Leopards sent nine batters to the plate in the top of the first inning and scored five times to take the early lead. Senior Christian Ferri (Bloomfield, N.J.) led off with a walk and moved to second on an infield single from classmate Jordan Burst (Jackson, N.J.). Junior Tyler Weninger (Chandler, Ariz.) singled down the right field line to bring in Ferri and when Weninger stole second, an errant throw brought in Burst and moved him to third. Weninger scored on an RBI single from senior Jimmy Temte (Northborough, Mass.) and sophomore Jake Smith (Orange, Conn.), who reached on a fielder's choice, came into score on a junior Tim Elrick (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) triple to right center. Elrick came into score on a single from sophomore Bryon Kucharski (East Haven, Conn.).

Wentworth added two more in the second as Ferri led off with a single and went to second when Burst was hit by a pitch. After a pair of outs, Ferri stole third and was driven in on a single from Jake Smith. Smith then stole second and Burst came into score.

A three-run fourth inning was highlighted by Weninger's second home run in as many games as he launched a two-run shot to right field, which also scored Burst who had led off the inning with a single through the left side. Elrick delivered a single through the left side to score Jake Smith who had singled to center.

Wentworth's final run of the game came in the fifth inning as sophomore pinch-runner Anthony de la Cruz (Lynn, Mass.) scored on a wild pitch.

Sophomore Ryan Obin (Plymouth, Mass.) picked up his second win of the season (2-0) as he allowed zero runs on three hits, walked two, and struck out one in six innings of work. Sophomore Matt Rothermel (Attleboro, Mass.) pitched a scoreless seventh, walking two and striking out one. Elrick was 3-for-5 with two RBI while Weninger was 2-for-3 with three RBI. Ferri and Jake Smith finished 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored each, Burst was 2-for-3 with three runs scored, and sophomore Ross Golebiewski (Lyme, Conn.) was 2-for-4.

Game 2:  Wentworth 3, SUNY Poly 0
SUNY Poly hit back-to-back singles with one out in the first to provide an early threat, however back-to-back flyouts to Ferri which included a diving catch, ended the threat.

All of the runs were scored in the second inning, thanks to sophomore Matt Smith (Horseheads, N.Y.). Jake Smith led off with a walk and went to second on an infield single up the line by Golebiewski. A sacrifice bunt from Elrick placed both runners in scoring position and freshman Owen Swanson (New Milford, Conn.) walked to load the bases. Matt Smith drove a double into the right-center field gap to clear the bases and give Wentworth a 3-0 lead.

The Wildcats threatened to score in the top of the fifth inning after a leadoff walk. Two groundouts moved the runner to third, however Denis got the next batter to fly out to Ferri to end the inning. An inning later SUNY Poly had runners at first and second with one out but a fly out and popup ended the threat.

Denis picked up his first win of the season (1-0) as he allowed five hits and struck out a pair. Matt Smith, Ferri, Golebiewski, and Elrick had a hit apiece.

Wentworth closes out its spring break trip tomorrow against Emerson in Sanford, Fla.

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