MILTON, Mass. (April 15, 2024) – The Western New England baseball team used their power in Monday afternoon's conference doubleheader against the Colonels of Curry College, smashing six home runs, four in game one and two in game two to grab 11-3 and 5-4 victories. 

Records:

• Western New England: 12-12, 3-4 CCC
• Curry College: 3-19, 0-6 CCC

How it Happened (Game 1):

After being swept in their doubleheader less than 24 hours ago, the Western New England baseball team took the field for the third time in as many hours, looking to get back in the win column over the 3-16 Colonels, who have lost their last 16 games overall. Western New England would get the start and hits they were looking for in today's opening game when Paul Villecco and John Bova both opened the game with singles to center field while third baseman Cody Waterbury delivered a three-run home run to center field, opening the scoring in Western New England's favor, giving WNE a 3-0 lead. Western New England would look to Tyler Curtis to start the game as the sophomore got the top of Curry's lineup down in order to quickly get Western New England the bats in their hands again. In the top of the second inning, the first two Golden Bears would go down though a two out rally would plate three more in the inning, doubling Western New England's lead. Aaron Cole would take a two out walk while Paul Villecco would be hit by a pitch. John Bova grabbed his first two RBIs of the afternoon on a double to right field, giving WNE a 5-0 lead. The Golden Bears would then take advantage of an error by Curry's first baseman, which plated the sixth run of the afternoon, handing WNE a 6-0 lead after an inning and a half. 

The score would hold in favor of the Golden Bears, who took a six run lead into the bottom of the fourth when Curry would come away with their first two runs of the game, coming away with an RBI single and sacrifice fly which plated two in the inning for the home team as the Colonels would cut Western New England's lead down to 6-2. The two runs would quickly be made up for the Golden Bears in the top of the fifth inning when Sean Jamieson connected on his second home run of the season and eighth home run of his career, giving Western New England their six run lead back, taking an 8-2 lead. 

The Golden Bears would see Curry get a run back in the bottom of the fifth though would break the game wide open the in the top of the sixth when Western New England would grab their third and fourth home runs of the afternoon, taking their largest lead of the game. Junior John Bova would drill his first home run of the season to center field to score two runs while the Golden Bears would go back-to-back when Cody Waterbury hit his second home run of the game and eighth homer of the season, giving the Golden Bears an 11-3 lead. The Golden Bears would close the game out in the final two innings as Alex Slezak would get the Colonels 1-2-3 in the sixth and would escape a bases loaded jam in the seventh as the Golden Bears came away with an 11-3 victory over Curry in game one. 

Inside the Lines:

• Four home runs in the game would lead Western New England to their second CCC win of the season. Cody Waterbury (2), John Bova, and Sean Jamieson would send big flys over the fences in the win. 
• Both Waterbury and Bova came away with four RBIs each for Western New England in the win while Jamieson grabbed two on his home run.
• Tyler Curtis picked up his second win of the season on the mound, going the first five innings giving up two hits and two earned runs while walking two and striking out three. The Braintree, Massachusetts native tossed 90 pitches in the win. 
• Alex Slezak finished the final two innings for WNE, grabbing four outs via strikeout. 

How it Happened (Game 2):

A leadoff home run to right field from Paul Villecco would get the red hot Golden Bears going early in the second game of the seven inning doubleheader. The graduate student connected on his ninth home run of his career and first of the season to give Western New England a 1-0 lead. WNE would threaten for more in the top of the first though would get a loud out from Trey Young to finish the inning on a deep fly ball to left field. Curry would leave three runners on base in the bottom of the first inning after WNE SP Greg Nivison would get a key ground ball to end the threat. The Colonels would threaten in each of the first three innings, leaving eight runners on through those three innings though would not be able to capitalize for their first run of the game. 

The Golden Bears would threaten with two two-out hits in the top of the fourth inning after Trey Young and Henry Schowerer would each single though the threat for Western New England would end, leaving both aboard. Curry would score their first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning to even the score at one after an RBI single from Curry's right fielder would tie the game at one. The Colonels would collect their biggest offensive inning of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning after taking advantage of a Golden Bears error while also coming away with an RBI double and groundout RBI to take a 4-1 lead on the Golden Bears. 

The pesky Golden Bears would not let the Colonels hold the lead for long as Western New England would pick up a home run from Trey Young, a two-run shot, sinking Curry's lead to just one run at 4-3 with one out in the inning. Western New England would work the bases loaded in the inning with one out and come around with their fourth run of the game to tie the game when John Bova was hit by a pitch with the bases full. Cody Waterbury would then come through with a fielder's choice to score WNE's fifth run of the game and fourth of the inning to re-claim the lead. Curry would ground into a double play to end their threat in the bottom of the sixth while Troy Donohue would lock down the Colonels bats in the seventh inning, getting a fly out while leaving two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh to give Western New England a 5-4 victory over Curry. 

Inside the Numbers:

• Trey Young's one out two run homer in the top of the sixth sparked a four run sixth for the Golden Bears who came back to take the win from the Colonels. Young was 2/3 with two RBIs in the win. 
• WNE was walked seven times in the game though had just five hits. 
• Greg Nivison went the first four innings for the Golden Bears, giving up just five hits and a run while walking three Colonels and striking out three, as well. 
• Troy Donohue closed out the final three innings for WNE, picking up his first win of the season. 
• Curry's extends their losing streak to 19 games after winning their first three of the season. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will play a non-conference game on Tuesday, April 16 at 3:30 PM to take on the Bantams of Trinity (Conn.) University.