Box Score
Box Score
PHOENIX, Ariz. - The Western New England baseball team won its first game at the Greater Phoenix Invitational with a dramatic 11-10 victory over William Paterson of New Jersey Monday afternoon (Mar. 14) at South Mountain Community College.
Senior catcher Jason Leclerc (Chicopee, MA) drove in the winning run with a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth as the Golden Bears snapped a three-game skid in the Grand Canyon State.
Freshman Jeff Mazzamurro (Southington, CT) pitched an inning and two-thirds in relief giving up only one hit to gain his first collegiate win.
After struggling with getting timely hits in its previous three contests, Western New England showed its resilience by battling back from 8-4 deficit after five innings to even its record at 3-3.
In the deciding ninth, senior third baseman Tony Trubia (Tolland, CT) led off with a single and moved to third on a single by senior designated hitter Ryan Dudzinski (Bristol, CT), which set the stage for Leclerc's winning hit.
Dudzinski had a big game with four RBI, including an important three-run triple that pulled the Golden Bears within 8-7 in the sixth.
William Paterson (1-3-1) scored twice in the eighth to stretch their advantage to 10-7 before Western New England again came back to tie the game with three runs after two outs in the bottom of the inning.
Junior pinch-hitter Tom Bouvier (East Longmeadow, MA) was hit by a pitch to score one run. Sophomore left-fielder Matt Anthonis (Guilford, CT) then delivered a clutch two-run double.
Western New England scored two unearned runs in the first for an early 2-0 lead. WPU plated three unearned runs in the second as junior shortstop Anthony Dorio (Lydenhurst, NJ) delivered two runs with a double. Batting ninth, Dorio enjoyed a 3-for-4 day at the plate with a run.
Five Western New England players had multi-hit games led by Anthonis who banged out three runs and scored twice. Leclerc, Dudzinski, Trubia, and sophomore second baseman Mike Rubino (Northford, CT) each contributed two hits.
The Pioneers compiled 13 hits with junior first baseman Adam Derner (River Edge, NJ) getting three hits with a RBI double and run. Senior left-fielder Mike Moran (Pompton Lakes, NJ) and freshman third baseman A.J. Flores (West Orange, NJ) each chipped-in with to hits and two RBI. Flores also had a double and scored twice.
