Lancers Drop Two against WPI on Saturday

NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. - Senior John Mulready (Rockland, MA) went 4-for-4 and was a triple away from the cycle in game one and classmate Alex Venditti (Newton, MA) connected on three home runs, including what proved to be the game-winner in game two, and racked up nine RBI on the day as WPI (9-5) took two from city rival Worcester State (6-5) in the form of a 14-6 nine-inning triumph and a 6-5 seven-inning victory at the New England Baseball Complex Saturday afternoon.

Mulready and Venditti (3-for-4, 2HR 5 RBI, 2 runs) were joined in the multi-hit club in the opener by senior Vinny D'Ambrosio (Mahopac, NY) who went 2-for-4 with a triple, a walk, two RBI and two runs, senior Sean Greene (Hingham, MA) who batted 2-for-4, including a double, and scored twice, and senior John Caliri (Hanson, MA) who batted 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Venditti, junior Nick Comei (Haverhill, MA) and Greene each swiped a bag while Venditti also did damage with a sacrifice fly. Local lefty sophomore Steven D'Agostino (Shrewsbury, MA) collected his third win of the season after allowing four earned runs on four hits. Another local, junior Mike Vaitkunas (Auburn, MA) struck out two in a pair of innings and freshman Austin Labastie (Mendon, MA) fanned two in his inning. The Engineers also turned a 6-4-3 double play.

All six Worcester State hits were by different batters which included a double by junior Mike Powers (Weymouth, MA). Freshman Mike Ferrara (Easton, MA) delivered a pair of RBI as Powers and junior Josh Creamer (Worcester, MA) each chipped in with one. The Lancers sent four to the mound, including junior Tyler Barrie (Oxford, MA), junior Neil Begley (Springfield, MA), sophomore Josh Riley (Worcester, MA) and sophomore Matt Irzyk (Westfield, MA).

Venditti homered to get things going in the bottom of the first. The Engineers tacked on six in the second, highlighted by a D'Ambrosio 2-RBI single down the left field line and a two-run blast by Mulready.

The Lancers got on the board thanks to a walk in the top of the third before totaling four in the fourth headlined by Ferarra 2-RBI knock to left center.

After Comei drove in D'Ambrosio in the bottom of the fourth, he was plated with  Venditti two-run homer to center. Creamer drove in Ferrara in the top of the sixth only to see WPI pull away with four in the seventh. Caliri led the final march with a 2-RBI double.

The nightcap was much tighter as the teams were deadlocked 4-4 after four.

WPI engineered the initial run of the game when Mulready sacrificed himself to allow D'Ambrosio to score in the first. Junior Adam Barry (Auburn, MA) used a run-producing infield hit to even it up in the home half of the frame.

Venditti appeared to open the flood gates once more thanks to a bases clearing double in the top of the second to make it a 4-1 game. Senior John Boyd (Worcester, MA) gave himself up with a sacrifice fly and Barry scampered home on a passed ball in the bottom of the third to make it a 4-3 contest. Junior Dan McGuill (E. Longmeadow, MA) added an RBI ground out in the bottom of the fourth to tie it up.

Evan Lacroix (Methuen, MA) broke the stalemate with an infield RBI hit in the top of the sixth. The Lancers knotted the game at 5-5 thanks to an infield miscue in the bottom of the frame.

Lacroix led the way with a 3-for-4 showing at the plate with an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored. Senior DJ Ouellette (Watertown, CT) had a quiet 2-for-3 game with a double. Venditti went 2-for-2 with three walks, four RBI and a run scored. Comei also earned a pair of free passes to go with a stolen base. Junior Aidan Freeburg (Billerica, MA) struck out for in the first four frames. Junior Dan Bettigole (South Windsor, CT) was credited with the win and sophomore Drew Gelinas (Saco, ME) claimed the save.

The Lancers were once again balanced at the plate as all seven hits were off seven different bats; however, junior Jake Ryan (Northbridge, MA) and Barry were the only two to record a double. Freshman Kyle Sullivan (Hudson, MA) and junior Andrew Reed (Douglas, MA) combined to fan 10 while the latter shouldered the setback.

WPI returns to the New England Baseball complex Tuesday to host Nichols at 3:30. Worcester State heads to Endicott for a 3:30 first pitch, also on Tuesday.

Release Courtesy of WPI Sports Information