SPRINGFIELD, Mass. â€" Johnson & Wales University scored four unearned runs in the first inning and went on to take an 8-2 victory over Western New England College in the first game of a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) baseball doubleheader called in the bottom of the seventh inning because of rain Saturday. The second contest was postponed.

Junior second baseman Alex Hurley (East Hartford, CT) went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI for the Wildcats (10-8, 3-0 GNAC). Freshman first baseman John Kuschman (Glastonbury, CT) slugged a three-run homer to highlight the opening frame. Hurley added a two-run shot in the second to give JWU a 7-0 lead. Sophomore centerfielder Mike Wenzgn (Manchester, CT) went 3-for-3 with a RBI single in the third. Senior Dan Gildart ( Avenel, NJ) raised his record to 4-0 allowing six hits with five strikeouts and two walks.

Western New England College (12-5, 2-1 GNAC) got on the board when sophomore designated hitter Travis Schwamb (West Springfield, MA) had a RBI single in the fourth. Schwamb then drilled a long homer (his first of the season) over the centerfield fence in the sixth. Senior Jason Connelly (Scituate, MA) suffered his first loss in four decisions. Junior Eric Smolin(Westford, MA) did a nice job in relief giving up only three hits while fanning two and alking two.

Western New England College had runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the seventh when heavy rains hit the area. After a 35-minute delay, the game was called.

WNEC will make-up the game with Johnson & Wales at 3:00 p.m. Monday (April 3).