PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - The Western New England College baseball team opened its season by splitting a doubleheader with Becker College Friday (March 16) at the Port Charlotte Invitational winning the first game 8-2 before dropping the second contest 3-2.

Freshman second baseman Justin Walz (Groton, CT) hit a single in his first collegiate at-bat and smacked a three-run homer to right in the fourth to break a 1-1 tie in the opener. Sophomore right-fielder Mike Beck (Whitesboro, NY) added a two-run single in the fifth.

Junior lefty Chris Anderson (Moodus, CT) gained the win allowing only two runs (one earned) and two hits in 5 2/3 innings. He fanned nine and walked four.

In the second game, junior shortstop Ryan Kravontka (Glastonbury, CT) had two of the Golden Bears' six hits and scored both runs. Senior catcher Mike Kruger (North Kingstown, RI) had a RBI single in the second while Beck had a sacrifice fly in the fourth that tied the game at 2-2.

Sophomore Jason Pizzoferrato (Windsor, CT) allowed all three runs (two earned) in 5 1/3 innings allowing six hits while striking out six and walking two.

The Hawks pushed across in the bottom of the fifth for the victory.