SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Western New England College baseball team opened its Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) season with doubleheader sweep over visiting Albertus Magnus 18-6 and 6-3 Saturday afternoon at Trelease Park.

In the first game, senior center fielder Garrison Ward (Wyckoff, NJ) was 3-6 with two triples and two RBI for the Golden Bears. Senior first baseman Tom Horgan (Westfield, MA) had a two-run single in the third inning. Sophomore left fielder Josh Kirson (Short Hills, NJ) had a two-run single in the eight-run sixth. Junior lefty Chris Anderson (Moodus, CT) improved his record to 3-0 after going six innings allowing six hits with seven strikeouts and four walks.

Albertus senior catcher Ray Ricker (Torrington, CT) was 2-for-3 with 2 RBI. Junior right fielder Mike Damiani (New Haven, CT) was 2-for-4 with two runs.

Junior shortstop Ryan Kravontka (Glastonbury, CT) went 3-for-4 with two triples and two RBI in the second contest for Western New England College. Senior third baseman Josh Jacobs (Essex Junction, VT) was 2-for-4 with three RBI. Senior pitcher Eric Smolin (Westford, MA) had the complete game win allowing six hits with five strikeouts and no walks.

For the Falcons, junior pitcher JR Bagley (Middletown, CT) had a 2-for-3 performance with a double.

Western New England College now has an overall 8-5 record while Albertus falls to 4-4 (0-2 GNAC).