Baseball Picks up Split Against Norwich

WEYMOUTH, Mass. – Nick Cullinan's RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning snapped a scoreless tie as the Wentworth Institute of Technology baseball team earned a 1-0 win in the back end of a doubleheader against Norwich. The Leopards picked up the sweep after the Cadets won, 4-0, in the opener.

Wentworth stands at 6-6 on the season while Norwich is 2-9.

GAME ONE:  Norwich 4, Wentworth 0

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After a leadoff walk and a stolen base, Norwich moved the runner over to third on a groundout and took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a sacrifice fly.
• Wentworth had its first base runner of the contest in the bottom of the third inning when Christian Figueroa led off reaching on an error. After he went to second on a Celeb Cormier groundout, he was left in scoring position as the inning ended with a fly out and a groundout.
• The Cadets took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning, using a leadoff walk, a single that moved the runner to third, and an RBI single through the left side. Nigel Cross got the next three batters out to end the inning.
• Wentworth got its first hit of the contest when Jake Samela had an infield single with one out. However, a fly out and strikeout left him stranded.
• A two-run double with two outs in the top of the sixth inning gave Norwich some breathing room, as the Cadets opened up a 4-0 lead. In the bottom of the seventh, Cullinan walked to lead the inning off and went to second when Josh Turcotte grounded out. Matthew Favazzo was hit by a pitch, however, the game ended when Samela grounded into a double play.
• Cross took the loss (0-3), allowing four runs on four hits while striking out eight over six innings. Cooper Smith pitched a scoreless seventh, allowing one hit and striking out one. Samela recorded Wentworth's lone hit.

GAME TWO:  Wentworth 1, Norwich 0

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Norwich opened the game with runners on first and second with two outs after a one-out hit by pitch and a two-out infield single. Aaron Masson induced a groundout to end the threat. An inning later the Cadets got a leadoff single and a stolen base before a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third. A line out and a ground out once again ended the inning.
• Wentworth got a one-out single in the bottom of the second from Matthew Favazzo, who went to second on an errant pickoff attempt. Favazzo moved to third on a groundout, however, was stranded there after a groundout ended the inning.
• A one-out single from Cormier gave the Black & Gold a baserunner in the third and he moved to second on a groundout. However, he was stranded there after an inning-ending groundout.
• Norwich had a leadoff single in the top of the sixth, which was erased by a double play and Masson got a strikeout to end the inning, keeping the game scoreless.
• With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Poirier laced the first pitch he saw into the right center field gap. On an 0-2 count, Cullinan singled to left to bring in Poirier and give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
• Michael Archambault retired the first batter he faced in the top of the seventh, however, back-to-back hit by pitches put runners on first and second. Bennett Leary came in and got a groundout that erased the lead runner and on three pitched got a game-ending strikeout for his third save of the season.
• Masson picked up his first collegiate win, allowing just three hits and striking out three over six innings. Poirier, Cullinan, Favazzo, and Cormier had Wentworth's four hits.

ALL-TIME SERIES:

• Today was the first two meetings between the two teams.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth is at Emerson on Tuesday.

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