SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Western New England College split a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) baseball doubleheader with Suffolk Saturday afternoon (Apr. 7) at chilly Trelease Park winning the first game 7-6 in eight innings before dropping the second contest 9-2. The Golden Bears are now 11-7 overall and 5-1 in the conference. The Rams are 13-7 and 6-2.

Game 1 Highlights

Western New England College – Sophomore left fielder Mike Beck (Whitesboro, NY) had the game-winning RBI single with one-out in the bottom of the eighth inning knocking in senior catcher Stephen Hanjack (Enfield, CT) who doubled in the preceding at-bat. Senior first baseman Tom Horgan (Westfield, MA) went 2-for-3 with two runs and a sacrifice fly that tied the contest 6-6 in the seventh. Freshman second baseman Justin Walz (Groton, CT) had a two-run triple that gave the Golden Bears a 2-0 lead in the second. Freshman Matthew Thadeio (West Greenwich, RI) pitched a scoreless eighth for his first collegiate win.

Suffolk – Junior right fielder Greg DeMarco (Newton, MA) went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Sophomore second baseman Chris Barber (Belmont, MA) had a two-run single in a three-run fourth that gave the Rams a brief 3-2 lead. Suffolk scored three runs in the top of the seventh to take a 6-5 lead on a two-run triple by DeMarco and sacrifice fly by freshman left fielder Tom Kelly (Milton, MA).

Game 2 Highlights

Western New England College – Hanjack had two hits, including a double and run. Walz had a single and run. Beck and freshman pinch-hitter/first baseman Joe Griglun (Southington, CT) each knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Suffolk – The Rams collected 14 hits with Kelly going 2-for-3 with three runs and a RBI. DeMarco went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs. Sophomore Reid Jackson (Burlington, MA) pitched six innings allowing hits with five strikeouts and two walks for the win.