PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Freshman Dave Matthews (Newtown, Conn.) went 3-for-4 as part of a 19-hit attack as the Johnson & Wales baseball team defeated Wentworth Institute of Technology, 17-2, at the Scots Miracle Gro Complex Friday afternoon.

Winners of two straight the Wildcats improve to 10-4 while the Leopards fall to 5-10.

Johnson & Wales plated a pair of runs in the first inning on an RBI single from Frank D'Amato (Lincoln, R.I.) and a sacrifice fly from sophomore Ivan Reyes (Cranston, R.I.). An inning later the Wildcats got a sacrifice fly from junior Lou Umberto (Cranston, R.I.) to take a 3-0 lead.

Holding a 3-0 lead the Wildcats scored at least one run in the next five innings, including scoring three times in the fifth, four times in the seventh, and five times in the eighth. In the fifth inning Cabral had an RBI triple and scored on a passed ball while Matthews delivered an RBI single. The four-run seventh-inning included a two-run single off the bat of freshman Darrin Keith (Carlisle, Pa.) and in the eighth, Johnson & Wales received a pair of RBI singles, a two-run double, and scored a run off a fielder's choice.

Wentworth scored its runs in the top of the eighth as junior Christian Ferri (Bloomfield, N.J.) hit a two-out single and scored on a senior Sam McManus (Hopkinton, N.H.) double and came in to score on a sophomore Tyler Weninger (Chandler, Ariz.) single.

Sophomore Keith Grant (East Providence, R.I.) picked up the win to improve to 3-0 on the year. In seven innings he allowed six hits and struck out three batters.

Freshman Ben Rexford (Lancaster, N.H.) picked up the loss (0-1) for the Leopards as he allowed seven runs (five earned) on eight hits and struck out six in 4.1 innings of work. McManus and Ferri paces the offense with two hits each.

Wentworth opens Commonwealth Coast Conference play tomorrow (Saturday) as the Leopards hosts Roger Williams in a doubleheader starting at Noon.