SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 22, 2025) – The Western New England baseball team got superb starting pitching in today's Conference of New England doubleheader against the Colonels of Curry College, but it would not be enough to take both games as the bullpen would falter in game one while the bats of game two would allow WNE to split their conference-opening series on Saturday afternoon from Trelease Park. 

Records:

• Western New England: 8-5, 1-1 CNE
• Curry College: 5-7, 1-1 CNE

How it Happened: Game 1

Jared Kuryan would nearly pitch to an immaculate inning in the top of the first innings, needing ten pitches to get the top three Colonels in their order down via strikeout. The first five out of the game came by strikeouts and seven of the first nine batters would go down fishing. Western New England produced their first hit in the bottom of the third inning as Antonio Galizia would single back up the middle, WNE's first base runner of the game. Jack Gamache would follow suit with a double to left field, sending Galizia to third with just one away in the inning. However, the Golden Bears would fan in back-to-back at-bats and leave the bottom of the third inning without a run. Kuryan would remain perfect on the hill until the top of the fifth inning when Curry would threaten for the first time in the game. 

Erik Leonard opened the top of the fifth inning with a single to left field, Curry's first base runner of the game, and it would not be their last of the inning as Brandon Polanco would single to left field with two outs in the frame but the Colonels would not score their first run of the game in the inning as Kuryan would get out of the inning with a fly ball out. Curry would score first in the top of the sixth, coming up with a Tommy Marshall double as the Curry pitcher would help himself out with the RBI double, giving the Colonels a 1-0 lead. Western New England would come away with a big sixth inning and would quickly take the lead, take advantage of an error by the Colonels. 

Andrew Florek led the inning off with a double down the right field line, while John Bova would reach on a fielding error by the Curry third baseman. Ryan Montini would reach on a fielder's choice in Western New England's next at-bat, setting one runner out. Runners would move up to second and third on a wild pitch while Jack Loftus would fill the bases with a walk with still one out in the inning. Trey Young would get on base on a fielder's choice but the ball would be thrown away by the Colonel's second baseman trying to turn a double play which would score two runs for the blue and gold, giving Western New England a 2-1 lead after the bottom of the sixth. WNE would add one run in the bottom of the seventh after John Bova doubled to left center field to score Jack Gamache, who would single earlier in the inning, giving the Golden Bears a 3-1 lead. Western New England would get themselves into trouble in the top of the eighth inning after Jared Kuryan would be lifted from the game, following giving up a single and a wild pitch but did get an out before ending his afternoon. Kuryan would go 7.1 innings in total. Andrew Melone would be called on to get the final two outs of the inning but would exit the game after giving up five hits and six earned runs over 28 pitches as Curry would come away with an 8-3 lead after the top of the eighth innings. 

Western New England would show fight in the bottom of the eighth inning, responding for four runs and six hits overall. Jack Loftus began the inning with a triple while Trey Young would belt his first home run of the season, cutting Curry's lead down to 8-5. Andrew Florek would come up with an RBI single while John Bova picked up an RBI double, getting the Golden Bears back within one, 8-7 after eight innings of play. Alex Slezak set Curry down in order in the top of the ninth inning. In the bottom of the ninth, Jack Loftus led off with a walk but a pair of flyouts and a pop-out would end the game in favor of Curry, coming away with an 8-7 win over WNE. 

Inside the Lines:

• Jared Kuran went the first 7.1 innings, giving up five hits and two runs while walking two and striking out six. Kuryan received a no-decision in the game. 
• Andrew Melone suffered his first loss of the season. Melone did not record an out, giving up five hits and six earned runs. 
• John Bova collected two hits and two RBIs in the game. Andrew Florek and Jack Gamache also picked up a pair of hits each in the game. 
• Western New England struck out 11 times in the first of two games on Saturday. 

How it Happened: Game 2

The Golden Bears would be all over Curry in the second game of the doubleheader, opening a big lead in the bottom of the first and never looking back. Matt Laura would make the start and would give up a hit in the top of the first but recorded two early strikeouts to continue his dominance on the hill this season. Andrew Florek came away with a walk to start the bottom of the first while Ryan Montini would each on an error to put two runners on base. Jack Loftus delivered a double to left center field, giving the Golden Bears a 1-0 lead. Trey Young, Leo Paragarino, and Tyler Kornacki would all record RBIs on three straight plate appearances for the Golden Bears, who came away with a quick 4-0 lead after one inning of play. WNE would threaten for more in the bottom of the second inning but a double play would end the inning with two runners on base as the Golden Bears would hold a four run lead after two innings of play. 

Jack Gamache would break the game wide open in the bottom of the third inning, sending his second home run of the season over the fences to give the Golden Bears a 7-0 lead. Tyler Kornacki and Antonio Galizia would score on the play for the blue and gold. WNE added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth after Jack Loftus continued his damage at the plate, doubling to left-center field while Leo Paragarino delivered a sacrifice fly and an RBI, giving Western New England an 8-0 lead after four innings. Matt Lauria would continue to cruise by the Colonels, getting out of a two-runners-on situation in the fifth to keep Curry off the scoreboard. 
In the bottom of the fifth, Western New England would put up six runs on seven hits and blew the game wide open. Jack Gamache opened the inning with a single to right field and came home to score on a ground ball out from John Bova, who picked up an RBI. The next six Golden Bears would come up with hits, all with two outs in the inning. Ryan Montini, Jack Loftus, and Trey Young would come up with three straight singles, while Leo Paragarino would clear the bases with a three-RBI double down the left field line, giving the Golde Bears a 12-0 lead. Tyler Kornacki would triple on the next at-bat for Western New England, giving them a 13-0 lead. Antonio Galizia would join in on the scoring party with a single to center field to score another as Western New England walked out with a 14-0 lead after five innings of play. Matt Lauria would sail through the final two innings, and with the ten-run mercy rule after seven innings, the Golden Bears would come away with a 14-0 victory over the Colonels. 

Inside the Lines:

• Plenty of Golden Bears did damage to beat Curry in the second game of the doubleheader. Leo Paragarino was 2/3 at the plate, picking up five RBIs in the win. 
• Jack Gamache went 2/3, scoring two runs and adding three RBIs on one swing for Western New England. 
• Tyler Kornacki was a perfect 3/3 at the plate, collecting two RBIs. 
• All nine starters for the Golden Bears had at least one hit in the game. 
• Jack Loftus had two doubles in the game, part of seven extra-base hits for the Golden Bears in the game. 
• Matt Lauria continued his scoreless streak for the season, going the distance, a full seven innings, giving up just three hits and one walk while striking out eight. Lauria has gone 25 innings this season without giving up a run. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England plays their first road Conference of New England game on Tuesday, March 25 at 3:00 PM at the University of Hartford.