SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 23, 2016) - The No. 21 nationally ranked Western New England University baseball team bounced back from its first loss of the season yesterday with a dominant 11-2 victory over crosstown rival Springfield College this afternoon in non-conference action at Berry-Allen Field.

The Golden Bears (9-1) took control of the contest early, scoring four runs in the top of the first and four more in the second, while limiting Springfield (6-3-1) to just three hits all game. Western New England's victory, its 11^th straight over the Pride dating back to the 2005 season, evens the all-time series between the two programs at 20-20.

Junior first baseman Daniel Morin (Salem, N.H.) fueled the Western New England offense with a monster performance at the plate, going 4-for-6 with a three-run homer and five RBI. Senior shortstop Kevin Marciano (Pepperell, Mass.) and freshman third baseman Alex Loparco (Riverside, Conn.) set the table at the top of the batting order, as each player went 2-for-4 with two runs and one walk each. Senior second baseman Eduardo Colmenares (Caracas, Venezuela) and freshman outfielder Ben LaCroix (Branford, Conn.) were also key offensive contributors, going a combined 4-for-7 with two walks, three runs scored and four RBI.

Junior righthander Andrew Mulvey (Bristol, R.I.) took the ball for his first start of the season and lasted five innings in a winning effort, allowing just one run and one hit while walking five batters and striking out three.

Freshman Sean Halligan (North Branford, Conn.), junior Matt Thomas (Plainville, Conn.) and senior Matt Fedor (Monroe, Conn.) each turned in a scoreless frame of relief, recording a combined four strikeouts.

Senior Corey Wilcox (Uncasville, Conn.) accounted for two of the Pride's three hits and added one RBI, while sophomore Mark Joao (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) walked and scored a run.

Sophomore Jack Weinberger (Sunapee, N.H.) got the start for Springfield but was unable to make it out of the second inning, giving up eight runs on seven hits.

Marciano got things started for the Golden Bears with a leadoff double in the top of the first, and Loparco followed with a single down the right field line, plating the first run of the game. LaCroix came up three batters later and extended Western New England's lead to 3-0 with a two-run single to left field, before advancing to second on a wild pitch and coming around to score on an RBI single by Morin.

The Golden Bears then doubled their advantage in the top of the second, opening up an 8-0 lead. Marciano was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, before stealing second and moving up to third on a single by Loparco. Colmenares delivered an RBI single to left field, and Morin broke the game open with a three-run homer later in the frame.

Springfield got one run back in the fourth, but Morin recorded his fifth RBI of the contest in the sixth and Western New England claimed a 10-1 lead in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Colmenares. Each team added a single run in the eighth inning, capping the scoring.

Western New England will be back in action on Saturday at noon with a non-conference doubleheader against Plymouth State at Trelease Park. Springfield hits the road tomorrow to take on Westfield State at 3:30 p.m.