WEYMOUTH, Mass. – Sophomores Christian Peruzzi (Plymouth, Mass.) and Matt Rice (Scottsdale, Ariz.) each went 3-for-5 and combined to drive in three runs as the Wentworth Institute of Technology baseball team defeated Western New England University, 11-6, in Commonwealth Coast Conference action Tuesday night.

With the win the Leopards improve to 11-5 overall and 1-2 in CCC play while the Golden Bears fall to 9-8 (1-3).

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Western New England took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as freshman CJ Willis (Auburn, Mass.) doubled and, after senior Ben Harrison (Newtown, Conn.) walked, both players moved up on a groundout. During the next batter, Willis scored on a passed ball and Harrison moved to third. However, junior Jon Campbell (Snohomish, Wash.) got a strikeout to end the inning.
• Wentworth answered with a run in the bottom of the second. Sophomore Michael Petit (Sandwich, Mass.) led off with a double and went to third on a groundout by senior Justin Kirst (Boston, N.Y.). Rice followed with a single to score Petit. In the top of the third inning, the Golden Bears loaded the bases with two outs but Campbell got a strikeout to end the threat.
• The Leopards scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-1 lead. Kirst and Rice both singled and senior Matt Masciadrelli (Westfield, Mass.) reached when a sacrifice bunt attempt was thrown away, which also allowed Kirst to score. A single by senior Nolan McManus (Milton, Mass.) brought Rice in. And, after Masciadrelli and McManus moved up on a wild pitch, senior Nolan Freeman (Braintree, Mass.) hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Masciadrelli. Wentworth threatened to add more, however, left the bases loaded.
• Like the third inning, Western New England loaded the bases in the top of the fifth inning on a two-out walk. Freshman Brady Aubuchon (Westminster, Mass.) came in in relief of Campbell and got a groundout to end the inning. Wentworth took advantage of the Golden Bears not scoring, coming across the plate three times. Masciadrelli hit his first career home run, coming with one out to make it 6-1. McManus was hit by a pitch and Freeman walked, placing runners on first and second before both players moved up 90 feet on a passed ball. Senior Kyle O'Neill (Haverhill, Mass.) hit into a fielder's choice which plated McManus and Freeman broke for home on a steal attempt by O'Neill and scored.
• A bases loaded walk to Harrison made it 8-2 headed into he bottom of the sixth and the Black & Gold added a pair of runs to push the lead to 10-1. Peruzzi led off with a home run and Petit followed with a single. A pair of errors allowed Petit to score.
• Western New England made it 10-5 with three runs in the top of the seventh, thanks to a three-run, pinch-hit home run from sophomore Ryan Snow (Charlestown, R.I.) and the Golden Bears pulled within four in the top of the eighth when Willis led off the inning with a home run. Rice led off the home half of the eighth by singling and stole second before McManus drove him in.
• The Golden Bears had a baserunner with two out in the top of the ninth, however senior Jacob Knowles (Concord, N.H.) got his second strikeout of the inning to end the game.
• Peruzzi finished with a single, double, and hone run and Rice drove in two runs and scored twice. Pettit was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored, while McManus was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Masciadrelli also drove in two.
• Knowles improved to 2-1, pitching a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one walk and striking out two. Campbell pitched the first 4.2 innings, allowing one unearned run and striking out eight.

ALL-TIME SERIES:

• Tonight marked the 31st all-time meeting between the two teams. Wentworth snapped a three-game series losing streak, however, Western New England leads, 22-9.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth is at Salve Regina for a CCC doubleheader on Saturday.

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