WNEC surprises No. 14 Blue Jays
PHOENIX, Ariz. - The Western New England College baseball team had a day to remember in the desert Wednesday (March. 18) at the RussMatt Invitational.
The Golden Bears pounded out 25 runs in sweeping a doubleheader over No. 14 Johns Hopkins (11-10) and Brockport (14-10). After opening its trip with three straight losses, WNEC has won four contests in a row.
In the first game, Western New England College totaled 11 hits in the opener and survived a late JHU rally in beating the 2008 national runners-up.
Freshman rightfielder Tom Bouvier (East Longmeadow, MA) continued his hot-hitting by going 2-for-4 with three runs and a stolen base. He pitched the last inning and earned his first college save despite giving up two runs (only one earned).
Senior centerfielder Chris Newell (Wallingford, CT) went 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs, and a run-batted-in. Senior leftfielder Mike Beck (Whitesboro, NY) was 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI.
Sophomore third baseman Tony Trubia (Tolland, CT) had a 2-for-5 day at the plate with a run and RBI.
WNEC trailed 5-3 before scoring four times in the fifth (a two-out, two-run double by Leclerc the key hit) and twice in the sixth for a 9-6 advantage.
Senior Jason Pizzoferrato (Windsor, CT) gained his first victory of the season in two decisions.
Senior leftfielder Dave Garber (Mount Joy, PA) went 3-for 5 with two doubles, a homer, and four RBI while junior rightfielder Brendan Walsh (La Jolla, CA) was 2-for-5 with a single, homer, and two RBI for the Blue Jays who are now 5-5.
Golden Bears down Golden Eagles in second game
Against Brockport, Bouvier had another big day at the plate with two singles, a homer, and three runs. Newell also had three hits, including a double, two runs and two RBI. Trubia contributed three singles and knocked in a pair of runs.
Sophomore designated hitter Andrew Fatse (Hampden, CT) added a pair of doubles with four RBI and three runs.
Senior Bryan Calzone (Bethel, CT) was the winning pitcher.
WNEC scored four times in the bottom of the first and added four runs in the fifth and five in the sixth to build a 13-6 advantage.
Brockport junior catcher Joe Zaccardo (Webster, NY) went 4-for-5 with a homer, two runs, and two RBI while junior second baseman Mike Meola (Liverpool, NY) was 3-for-6 with a double, two runs and an RBI.
The Golden Eagles now have a 2-6 record.
Western New England College plays its final game in the Valley of the Sun on Thursday (March 19) against WIlliam Paterson of New Jersey.
