KEENE, N.H. (April 2, 2025) – The Western New England baseball team saw their offense fall flat in the first seven innings of the game but an eighth inning rally, sparked by a two-out RBI double from Ryan Montini would bring the Golden Bears to life while a single from Jack Loftus would be the difference in a 3-1 non-conference victory over the Owls of Keene State College on Wednesday afternoon from the Owl Athletic Complex.  

Records:

• Western New England: 12-8
• Keene State College: 8-12

How It Happened:

Andrew Florek collected his fifth double of the season with one out in the top of the first inning to give the Golden Bears their first hit of the game to begin the threat of scoring right away. After Keene State's Nathan Pirog recorded his first strikeout of the afternoon, the freshman would issue a walk to Jack Loftus, putting runners on first and second with two away but a ground ball fielder's choice from Leo Paragarino would end the inning with no runs across for Western New England. Keene State would get back-to-back hits with one out in the bottom of the first off WNE starter Jacob Hobart, but Hobart rolled Shea Zina over on a double play to escape the Owls threat as the score remained tied at zero despite both teams putting runners in scoring position in the first inning. 

The Owls had the lone hit in the second inning but both Pirog and Hobart would get out of the innings unscathed, keeping both teams at bay. Both teams would go down in order in the third inning as the Western New England bats would quickly be silenced. Pirog would retire 11 straight Golden Bears through the top of the fourth inning as the game cruised along to the bottom of the fourth inning. Keene State would get on the board first, getting a solo home run from Jonathan Chatfield, the fourth of the season for the KSC junior, to give the Owls a 1-0 lead. After retiring 13 batters in a row through the top of the fifth inning, Western New England would collect just their second hit of the game in the top of the sixth inning, a bunt single from Jack Gamache. The hit would quickly be wiped away with a double play turned by the KSC infield, quickly putting two outs on the board. The heart of the Western New England order would continue the inning, however, as Andrew Florek collected his second hit of the game, singling through the right side of the diamond. Ryan Montini followed suit with a single of his own, moving Florek to third. Jack Loftus would be next to reach base, coming away with a hit-by-pitch, being plunked for the 11^th time this season. With the bases loaded and two outs, the Golden Bears would record their third out on Pirog's eighth strikeout of the afternoon, keeping WNE off the scoreboard. 

Hobart would continue to move through the sixth inning giving up just five hits to the Owls and collecting a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth inning overall. Keene State would feature a new pitcher in the top of the seventh inning, but the Golden Bears would not be able to score again, grounding out into their second double play in as many innings, ending the inning. Jacob Hobart continued to keep the Golden Bears in the game, tossing four strikeouts through seven innings of work, needing just 68 pitches to get through the seventh. Jack Gamache led off the top of the eighth inning for Western New England with a walk, sending the top of the order back to the plate for the Golden Bears. With two outs, Ryan Montini would take a 0-2 pitch and send it into the right field gap, scoring Gamache all the way from first base to tie the game at two. Jack Loftus would then put Western New England ahead with a bloop single to right field after KSC right fielder Domminic Tagliaferro would dive and come up just short of making the catch, putting the Golden Bears in front 2-1. Leo Paragarino would continue the hit parade for Western New England with a single to right-center, moving Loftus to third. The hit would pull KSC's Liam Conley from the game. The Golden Bears would record two runs on three hits overall in the inning to take a 2-1 lead. 

The Golden Bears would get into some trouble in the bottom of the eighth inning after pinch hitter Evan Calli walked and advanced on a wild pitch with one out. Hobart would settle into his final inning of work and collected two fly ball outs to end the KSC threat, keeping WNE ahead 2-1. Western New England would add insurance in the top of the ninth inning after lead-off hitter Antonio Galizia doubled down the right field line and advanced on a wild pitch, getting 90 feet from scoring with no outs. Jack Gamache would deliver an RBI single to center field on the next at-bat, bringing home Galizia, and giving the Golden Bears a 3-1 lead. WNE would take that extra run into the bottom of the ninth where Troy Donohue would lock down the final three outs in the inning, getting a pop out, strikeout, and ground out to end the game, giving Western New England a come from behind victory, defeating Keene State 3-1. 

Inside the Lines:

• A clutch two-out hit from Ryan Montini got the bats going in the top of the eighth inning, tying the game at one. Montini would finish 2/5 at the dish on the afternoon overall. 
• Jack Loftus came up with an RBI single that broke the tie in the eighth, adding to his team leading 18^thRBI of the season. 
• Jack Gamache was 2/3 at the dish and picked up an RBI single in the ninth to add insurance to the Western New England lead. The WNE sophomore was one of three Golden Bears who picked up two hits in the game. 
• WNE got brilliant starting pitching from senior Jacob Hobart, who went the first eight innings, giving up five hits and just one earned run while walking one and striking out five. Hobart tossed 85 total pitches on the afternoon. 
• Troy Donohue closed out the game in the ninth, earning his first save of the season, giving up just one hit and striking out one, tossing 12 pitches. 
• Western New England snaps their mini two-game losing streak to the Owls overall. 
• KSC was led by Jonathan Chatfield, who has the only RBI for the Owls, coming on a solo home run in the fourth inning.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears are right back in action on Thursday, April 3 at 3:30 PM at Reynolds Field in Newport, Rhode Island, taking on Salve Regina University.