WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (March 4, 2025) – The Western New England baseball team came up with timely hitting and superb relief pitching from Tanner Wall, on their way to their third straight win to open the season, defeating the University of Saint Joseph's (Conn.) by a final score of 9-5 on Tuesday afternoon. Connor Cowern led the WNE offense with three hits and four RBIs.  

Records:

• Western New England: 3-0
• University of Saint Joseph's (Conn.): 2-1

How it Happened:

Both teams were set down in order to begin the first inning of the game, both grounding out twice and producing a fly ball out. Jacob Hobart would get the start for Western New England, his first start in nearly a year. WNE would pick up their first hit of the game in the top of the second inning after Trey Young singled that moved Jack Loftus to second base after Loftus was hit with a pitch, but the Golden Bears would not score in the inning, caught looking at strike three twice in a row to set the inning aside. Hobart was nearly perfect through two innings of work before a walk would come about in the bottom of the second but there would be no damage done by the Blue Jays, who would ground out and strike out to end the inning. Saint Joseph would come up with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the third inning to come around with the first runs of the game. Ryan Quinn would have the first RBI of the game on a single while Jack Kane would follow suit two batters later as the Blue Jays would come up with their two runs both with two outs to take the lead 2-0 after three innings over WNE. 

Ryan Montini singled to center field to begin the top of the fourth inning, but WNE would be doomed on a double play to end the inning to halt the early threat. Jacob Hobart would last three innings, giving up three hits and two earned runs while walking two and striking out two, throwing 51 pitches. Tanner Wall relieved Hobart in the bottom of the fourth, getting a clean 1-2-3 inning. Western New England would bat around in the top of the fifth, coming up with four runs on four hits, flipping USJ's two-run lead into a two-run lead of their own. Connor Cowern began the inning with a single to center field while Jack Gamache would follow with a single of his own. The single parade continued, this time with an RBI attached as Tyler Kornacki came up with a shot to right field, scoring one, putting the Golden Bears on the scoreboard, trailing 2-1. John Bova came up with a beaming line drive to center field which tied the game at two, scoring Gamache. The bases would fill after Ryan Montini took a walk, calling for a new pitcher for the Blue Jays. Andrew Florek would face USJ's next pitcher, Aaron LaRose, and pick up a ground ball that would cause for an RBI, giving WNE a 3-2 lead. Bova would come home to score on the next play, a passed ball for the Blue Jays, giving the Golden Bears a 4-2 lead after the four and a half innings of play. USJ starter Brandon Cahill lasted 4.1 innings, giving up four runs, three earned, while walking two and striking out three, all looking. USJ would waste little time getting back into the game, taking advantage of two errors in the bottom of the fifth inning by Western New England to even the score at five after five innings. 

The Golden Bears would immediately threaten with their first two hitters in the top of the seventh as John Bova and Ryan Montini would single. Montini's single pushed Bova to third base, leaving runners on the corners with no outs. Andrew Florek would produce his second fielder's choice of the game, scoring Bova, giving the Golden Bears a 5-4 lead. Connor Cowern would deliver a big two-out, two RBI single to score EJ Quint, who pinch ran for Florek and Jack Loftus, who was hit by a pitch, putting Cowern in the position to knock home two, giving the Golden Bears a 7-4 lead after 6.5 innings of play. The Blue Jays picked up one hit in the bottom of the seventh but that would not score as Tanner Wall continued his dominance on the hill. 

Western New England would add insurance in the top of the ninth inning, starting off with a Trey Young single to center field. Connor Cowern would continue to be an impact player for the Golden Bears, coming up with his first home run of the season, a two-run shot, making the lead in favor of Western New England, 9-4. Troy Donohue came in to finish off the final three outs of the game, getting two ground outs and a strikeout while the Blue Jays connected for a long ball off Donohue, but it would not be enough as WNE would pick up a 9-5 victory, their third straight win to open the season. 

Inside the Lines:

• Connor Cowern delivered for Western New England on Tuesday afternoon, going for three hits in five at bats, collecting four RBIs, a career high, in the win. 
• Despite not having any hits in the game, Andrew Florek picked up two RBIs for Western New England. 
• Tyler Kornacki and John Bova also had RBIs for the Golden Bears in their win. 
• Tanner Wall was stellar in his season debut on Tuesday, going five innings of relief, giving up just two hits and two runs, one earned, while striking out five Blue Jays, throwing 66 pitches. 
• Western New England had 12 hits in the game, ten of which were singles. 
• USJ was led by JJ Fox who had three hits, including a home run in the ninth inning.
• WNE improved to 2-0 all-time against the Blue Jays. The two teams will meet again this season at Trelease Park on Tuesday, April 22. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears head south to Davenport, Florida for seven games on their annual spring break trip at the RussMatt Invitational. WNE opens spring break with a double header against Wartburg College on Saturday, March 8 at 4:30 PM and 6:30 PM at Northeast Regional Park.