SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 21, 2026) – The Western New England baseball team couldn't find its offensive touch on Saturday afternoon, dropping a pair of games to the Gators of Sage College, 9-3 in a nine-inning first game, and 7-3 in a seven-inning second game. 

Records:

• Sage College: 10-3
• Western New England: 7-6

How it Happened (Game 1 – 9 Innings):

First Inning:

• Sage got to Connor Flynn early in the contest, striking for two runs in the top of the first when Evan Grimes put together an RBI triple, followed by a Collin Casey bunt single in the infield to give the Gators the early advantage. 
• Western New England threatened in the bottom of the frame after Jack Gamache led off with a single and advanced on a wild pitch. Leo Paragarino picked up an infield single, as the Golden Bears had a pair of hits on the board right away, but could not string together anything further, seeing the Gators hold onto a two-run lead. 

Third Inning:

• Grimes did damage again in the top of the third for the Sage offense, coming away with another triple, but scoring on the same play following an error on the relay from the Golden Bears, doubling the Gators' lead, giving Sage a 4-0 advantage. 
• Paragarino reached in the bottom of the third on an error from the Sage infield with two outs, but the Golden Bears could not cut into the Sage lead, trailing by four after three. 

Fifth Inning:

• The Gators attacked for two more runs on three hits in the top of the fifth inning, seeing Evan Grimes continue to produce for Sage, picking up a two-RBI single to add two more runs to the Gators' lead once again, giving Sage a 6-0 lead.

Sixth Inning:

• Western New England's first two batters were the only two hits they could get, but WNE came across with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning after a routine fly ball was dropped in the outfield with a pair of runners on base, scoring Tyler Kornacki and Connor Cowern after Kornacki reached on a walk and Cowern on a different Sage error in the inning, while Greg Nivison's fly ball plated two, putting the Golden Bears on the scoreboard, trailing 6-2 after six innings. 

Eighth Inning:

• Greg Nivison's second straight fly ball produced another run in the bottom of the eighth inning for Western New England, seeing a sacrifice fly score another run, as the Golden Bears had three outs to work with in the ninth, trailing 6-3 after eight innings. 

Ninth Inning:

• Sage broke the game open in the top half of the ninth inning to claim victory as Jaret Sarrantonio couldn't get out of a jam, walking three batters in the inning while giving up a bases-clearing double to Darren Dengler, who gave the Gators a 9-3 lead, a lead they held onto for the final three out of the game, taking the opening game of the doubleheader. 

Inside the Lines:

• Western New England had just four hits, including two to open the bottom of the first inning, scoring just three runs total for the game. Four different Golden Bears recorded hits, including Jack Gamache, Leo Paragarino, Alex Grenier, and Antonio Galizia. 
• Connor Flynn suffered his first loss of the season, going three innings, giving up five hits and four runs, three earned, while walking one and striking out one. Aiden Bisaillon pitched four innings for WNE, giving up three hits and two runs, while walking two and striking out four. Todd Grammatico and Jaret Sarrantonio finished off the game out of the bullpen.
• Sage saw Xavier Garcia earn the win, going six innings, giving up three hits and two runs, none earned, while walking two and striking out eight. Tyler Murray got the save after finishing off the final three frames, giving up just one hit and one run. 
• Today's opening game was the first meeting all-time between the teams. 

How it Happened (Game 2 – 7 Innings):
Third Inning:

• Both teams saw quality starts from their pitching, with Jack Lewis getting the nod for the Golden Bears. Sage got to Lewis in the top of the third inning, plating three runs after giving up a pair of singles, while a stolen base brought home one to give Sage the opening 1-0 lead.  A single to right field from Joseph Kapierz and another RBI for Evan Grimes gave the Gators the 3-0 lead after the top of the frame. 
• The bottom of the frame saw Christian Steiner take a walk on nine pitches, while Leo Paragarino picked up an RBI single to put a run on the scoreboard for the Golden Bears, trailing 3-1 after three innings. 

Fifth Inning:

• Sage got that run back in the top of the fifth inning, seeing Grimes earn his sixth RBI of the day after four in the opening game and two more in game two, adding to the Gators' lead, giving Sage a 4-1 lead after the top of the fifth. 
• The Golden Bears responded in the bottom of the fifth inning for their best offensive frame of the afternoon. Tyler Waterbury smacked a one-out triple to right field, followed by an RBI single from Jack Gamache, getting the Golden Bears back within two. Leo Paragarino reached on a single and advanced to third on a wild pitch, sending Gamache home, dropping the Gators' lead to one, 4-3. WNE could not capitalize with a runner on third and one out, squandering a chance for more. 

Seventh Inning:

• Jason Pinsonnault couldn't hold off Sage, surrendering three runs and four hits in the top of the seventh as Grimes completed the game with another four RBIs, while a groundout RBI from Collin Casey gave the Gators a 7-3 lead, a lead they were able to hold onto to sweep the doubleheader. 

Inside the Lines:

• Jack Gamache and Leo Paragarino combined for four hits and three RBIs, picking up four of WNE's six hits in the game. 
• Jack Lewis went the first three innings, giving up five hits and three runs, walking one and striking out the only batter of the game. 
• Lucas Kamoen, Ian Brais, Brody Rogers, and Jason Pinsonnault came out of the bullpen for the Golden Bears. 
• Sage saw Aidan Green work the full seven innings, giving up just six hits and three runs, walking two, and striking out three. 
• Offensively, Evan Grimes capped off the game with three hits and four RBIs and went 6/8 with eight RBIs on the day. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England looks to bounce back when they open Conference of New England play on Tuesday, March 24 at 3:30 PM against the University of Hartford.