Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

Josh Kirson

Ryan Kravontka

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Western New England baseball team maintained its top spot in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) after defeating Eastern Nazarene by the scores of 7-2 and 4-3 Monday afternoon (Apr. 18) at Trelease Park.

The Golden Bears, who are ranked fifth in the New England Division III Coaches Poll released today, compiled seven doubles in the two contests in raising their record to 26-8 overall and 18-2 in league play. The Lions fall to 8-23 and 5-15 in league play.

Western New England was making its first start against a conference opponent since splitting a doubleheader at Wentworth on April 10. The Golden Bears won two of three against non-league rivals last week.

Game 1 – Western New England 7, Eastern Nazarene 2
Senior designated hitter Ryan Dudzinski (Bristol, CT) had three hits, including a pair of doubles, along with two runs scored and a RBI to lead the way. Junior first baseman Mike Taylor (Andover, MA) and sophomore shortstop Kyle McKelvey (Schenectady, NY) each added two hits, with a run scored, and run-batted-in.

The Golden Bears took a 1-0 lead in the first when Dudzinski led off with a double and came around to score on a ground-out by sophomore second baseman Mike Rubino (Northfield, CT). Dudzinski added a RBI single and Rubino a two-run double in the second for a 4-0 advantage.

Senior Zach Cloft (Glastonbury, CT) pitched six innings allowing just three hits with three walks and eight strikeouts. He is now 5-1 on the season.

Trailing 7-0, Eastern Nazarene finally got on the board when sophomore shortstop Carlos Silver (New York, NY) drove in two runs with a single in the fifth. Junior Jared Daniels (Smithsburg, MD) was the losing pitcher.

Game 2 – Western New England 4, Eastern Nazarene 3
The Golden Bears pushed across two unearned runs in the sixth with McKelvey knocking in the game-winner with a two-out double.

Eastern Nazarene took a 2-0 lead in the first on a two-run single by freshman catcher Dave Manning (Yorktown Heights, NY) who finished 2-for-2 with a walk. Western New England tied the game in the second when Taylor knocked-in both runs with the first of his two doubles.

The Lions quickly re-gained the lead in the third on a two-out RBI single by junior designated hitter George Williams (Thornwood, NY).

ENC senior pitcher Justin Denbow (Readfield, ME) had an effective outing giving up eight hits with no walks and four strikeouts. Junior Jeremy Cook (Hatfield, PA) was the hard-luck losing pitcher.

Sophomore Kevin Jefferis (Cheshire, CT) settled down after a shaky start allowing six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. Junior Mike Lawlor (Windsor, CT) gave up just one hit in two innings to gain his first victory of the year in two decisions.