SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Strong pitching performances by senior Bryan Calzone (Bethel, CT) and freshman Mark DiTommaso (Hebron, CT) lifted the Western New England College baseball team to a 4-0, 14-1 doubleheader sweep over visiting Eastern Nazarene Tuesday afternoon (April 14) at Trelease Park.
The Golden Bears have won seven of their last eight contests in raising their record to 19-10 overall and 11-5 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC).
Calzone, a lefty who beat top-ranked Eastern Connecticut in his last start, tossed a two-hitter for his first shutout of the season. He struck out nine and didn't walk a batter. Calzone (5-2) retired the first 17 batters before sophomore pinch-hitter David Rivera (Bronx, NY) singled with two outs in the sixth.
WNEC scored a pair of unearned runs in the first and added its final runs in the third on a two-run single by sophomore third baseman Tony Trubia (Tolland, CT).
Senior centerfielder Chris Newell (Wallingford, CT) had two singles and scored two runs.
Junior shortstop Justin Walz (Groton, CT) contributed a single, double, and two runs scored while junior first baseman Joe Griglun (Southington, CT) had a single, run scored, and RBI.
In the second game, DiTommaso allowed only one hit in five innings while striking out five with no walks. The hard-throwing righty had his no-hit bid broken up with one out in the fifth on a single by freshman Ben Bergeron (Rochester, MA) who had entered the game the previous inning.
Junior rightfielder Steve Kearney (Glastonbury, CT) had his best game of the season going 4-for-5, including a double, three runs and four RBI.
Walz had a pair of singles, double, three runs, and two RBI in completing a 5-for-7 afternoon.
Newell added a pair of doubles, two RBI, and a run scored while Grigun finished with a single, double, run, and two RBI.
Freshman designated hitter Matt Fleshman (East Northport, NY) scored three runs and belted a solo homer (his fourth of the season).
Freshman pinch-hitter/first baseman Mike Taylor (Andover, MA) chipped-in with a two-run double in his only plate appearance.
Junior pinch-hitter Tyler Montrone (Wilton, CT) also doubled and scored a run in his only at-bat.
Senior leftfieler Mike Beck (Whitesboro, NY) made a nice diving catch in the fourth inning of the second game, one of several by the Golden Bears' outfielders in the twinbill.
Bergeron went 2-for-2 for the Crusaders who drop to 13-14 overall and 5-9 in the conference.
