AUBURNDALE, Florida – Kyle Desjardins went 4-for-5 with three RBI and reached base safely a total of five times as the Wentworth Institute of Technology baseball team split a pair of games with Penn State Brandywine. The Leopards picked up the win in the first game, 10-5, before falling, 5-4, in eight innings in the nightcap.

Wentworth 10, Penn State Brandywine 5

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Wentworth Batting Leaders:  Kyle Desjardins (3-for-4, triple, two runs scored, three RBI), Nolan Freeman (2-for-4, one RBI), Ayrton DiPina (two RBI), Matt Rice (three RBI)
Wentworth Pitching Leaders:  Jeff Rodden (4.2 innings, four runs (three earned), three strikeouts), Jacob Knowles ((W, 1-0) 1.1 innings, four strikeouts)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Brandywine got on the board in the top of the first, thanks in part to a Wentworth error. Nick Wright, who had led off the game with a single, scored the run. The Leopards came back with one in the bottom of the inning as Aidan French led off with a single and scored on a Nolan Freeman groundout. An inning later, Wentworth scored two to take a 3-1 lead. Sophomore Ayrton DiPina (Pawtucket, R.I.) singled with one out and went to third when Nolan McManus reached on an error on a sacrifice bunt. Matt Rice followed with a two-run single.
• The top of the fifth saw the Lions tie the game, with three runs, all coming with two outs. Nick Wright, Tyler Brooks, and Kyle Oechsle each had singles, with Oechsle driving in Wright. Brooks and Oechsle both scored on wild pitches. The bottom of the inning the Black & Gold scored three times to take the lead. Kyle O'Neill, who had a one-out single, scored on a fielder's choice, Desjardins, who had a one-out single, scored on a bases-loaded walk from Rice, and DiPina scored on a bases loaded walk from sophomore Christian Peruzzi (Plymouth, Mass.).
• Wentworth opened the game up in the sixth, scoring four times. Freeman led off with a double and went to third when O'Neill reached on an error. O'Neill stole second, which was followed by a walk from Peruzzi. Desjardins laced a triple, scoring three runs and he came in to score on a sacrifice fly from DiPina. Brooks scored on a wild pitch in the top of the seventh to make it 10-5.
• Sophomore Jeff Rodden (Plymouth, Mass.) started, pitching 4.2 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits, and struck out three. Senior Jacob Knowles (Concord, N.H.) earned the win (1-0), pitching 1.1 innings and allowed one hit and struck out four. Desjardins went 3-for-4 with three RBI. Rice and DiPina drove in three and two runs, respectively.

Penn State Brandywine 5, Wentworth 4 (8)

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Wentworth Batting Leaders:  Aidan French (2-for-4), Nolan McManus (two runs)
Wentworth Pitching Leaders:  Brady Aubuchon (4.0 innings, three runs, five strikeouts), Matt Ferrara (1.2 innings, one run, three hits), Jacob Knowles (2.0 innings (L, 1-1), 1 run, two hits)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• French led off with a single and went to second when Freeman was hit by a pitch. French went to third when O'Neill reached on a fielder's choice. O'Neill stole second and French came into score on the play. An inning later, McManus drew a two-out walk and went to second on a wild pitch. French walked and Freeman followed with an RBI single, scoring McManus.
• The Lions got on the board on the bottom of the third inning when Hayden Altimari drew a bases-loaded walk. An inning later the Leopards got the run back when McManus, who was hit by a pitch with one out, scored on a sacrifice fly from O'Neill. Wentworth upped its lead to 4-1 in the fifth inning when Ryan Putney reached on a fielder's choice which scored Desjardins. The home half of the inning saw Brandywine tie the game, with Altimari driving in a run on a fielder's choice, Shaun Lima drove in a run with a fielder's choice, and Jack Hedger driving in a run with a double.
• Both teams left two runners on base in the sixth inning and were set down in order in the seventh, sending the game into extra innings. In the top of the eighth, Wentworth was unable to get a baserunner on. With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, the Lions got a double from Wright and Brooks was intentionally walked. A wild pitch moved both runners up before Evan Abegg (Commerce City, Colo.) ended the game with a single.
• Knowles took the loss (1-1), allowing one run on two hits. Freshman Brady Aubuchon (Westminster, Mass,) started the game, allowing three runs on seven hits and struck out five in four innings. French led the offense with a pair of hits.

ALL-TIME SERIES:

• Today marked the first two meetings between the two schools.

NEXT UP:

• The Leopards face MCLA on Friday afternoon.

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