Late Inning Rally Lifts WPI Past Baseball

NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. – Tommy Burns' RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning snapped a 4-all tie and lifted the WPI baseball team to a 5-4 win over Wentworth Institute of Technology in a non-conference contest played at the New England Baseball Complex.

With the win the Engineers improve to 11-9, while the Leopards drop to 6-14

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Devon Lapierre led off the game with a bunt single and advanced to second on an error. A groundout from Jake Samela moved him to third, however, he was thrown out at the plate when Matthew Favazzo reached on a fielder's choice. WPI had runners on second and third in the bottom of the inning but Connor Whitehead recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
• The Leopards got on the board in the top of the second as Christian Roncal led off with a single and went to second on a Nick Cullinan base hit. Both runners moved up on a passed ball and, with one out, Cyle Archer grounded out which allowed Roncal to score. An inning later the Black & Gold increased their lead to 2-0 as Lapierre led off with a walk and went to second on a wild pitch. A walk by Samela put runners on first and second and a Favazzo fly out moved Lapierre to third. A double steal put Samela on second and scored Lapierre.
• WPI cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning as with two outs, a run scored on a balk. An inning later, Andrew Cash homered to even the score at 2-all.
• Wentworth reclaimed the lead in the seventh inning. Mike Sibert singled and went to second on a Lapierre walk. Samela delivered an RBI single to score Sibert and move Lapierre to third. Lapierre scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-2. In the bottom of the inning, the Engineers took advantage of a Leopard error to pull back within one. An inning later, Burns hit a solo home run to tie the game at 4-all.
• Sibert led off the ninth inning with a single and went to second on a Lapierre groundout. Samela followed with a single, which moved Sibert to third. Pinch runner Alex Dayton stole second, however, both runners were stranded in scoring position after a strikeout and a groundout ended the inning.
• WPI took advantage of a Leopard error to lead off the home half of the ninth as James DiGiovanni reached on the error and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. A groundout moved pinch runner Miles Pratt to third and he scored on Burns' walk-off hit.
• Samela was 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Sibert recorded a pair of hits. Lapierre reached base three times in five plate appearances. Whitehead started the game and pitched two scoreless innings, striking out a pair. Michael Archambault also pitched a pair of scoreless innings for the Leopards. Brandon Farinas suffered the loss (0-2).

ALL-TIME SERIES:

• Today was the 20th all-time meeting between the two teams.

NEXT UP

• Wentworth is at Curry on Tuesday, April 8.

For the latest on Wentworth Athletics, follow the Leopards via social media on "X," Facebook and Instagram.