SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Western New England College baseball team split a doubleheader with visiting Salve Regina Sunday afternoon (Mar. 22) dropping the opener 8-6 before bouncing back for a 7-4 victory in the second contest.

This was The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) opener for both squads who combined for 25 runs and 35 hits under chilly conditions at Trelease Park.

In the first game, SRU scored three unearned runs (one in the sixth and two in the seventh) in snapping the Golden Bears' five-game win streak.

The Seahawks had 13 hits with junior catcher Dave Miller (Sheton, CT) getting two singles, two runs-batted-in, and a run. Sophomore shortstop Alexander Melcher (Poughkeepsie, NY) also had two hits and scored three times.

Freshman Laurence Liggett (Manasquan, NJ) pitched two scoreless innings of relief in gaining his first college win.

For Western New England College, freshman rightfelder Tom Bouvier (East Longmeadow, MA) had a single and two-run homer in the fourth that helped give the home team a 6-3 advantage.  

Junior first baseman Joe Griglun (Southington, CT) had a single, stolen base, and two RBI while sophomore third baseman Tony Trubia (Tolland, CT) had a pair of singles and a run.

WNEC broke open a scoreless game in the second contest with a four-run third inning and held on for the win after Bouvier pitched the final two innings for his second save of the season. He also doubled and scored a run.

Freshman designated hitter Matt Fleishman (East Northport, NY) was the hitting star with a single, double, triple, run, and three RBI.

Trubia added two singles, a run, and RBI.

Freshman Mark DiTommaso (Hebron, CT) raised his record to 2-0 after pitching 4 1/3 innings in his first college start. He allowed six hits and three unearned runs while striking out four and walking two.

Junior relief pitcher Erich Geckle (Baldwin Place, NY) came in with runners on second and third after the Seahawks scored three times in the fifth and got out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts.

SRU junior designated hitter Riley Diaz (Miami, FL) had two singles and a pair of RBI while senior centerfielder Justin Collett (South Portland, ME) had a double and scored twice.

The Seahawks now have a 4-11 record.