Baseball Splits CCC Twinbill with Wentworth, Earns First League Win

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College baseball team halved a two-game set against league foe Wentworth Institute of Technology Friday afternoon at Bradley Field. The Lions prevailed 7-1 in the nightcap after dropping the opening contest 11-4.

The Lions move to 12-19 on the year and 1-11 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The Leopards progress to 14-14 overall and 6-8 in conference play with the results.

Jeremy Wagner (Oklahoma City, Okla.) led Eastern Nazarene offensively with three hits, two RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base. Cameron Fiorentino (Uxbridge, Mass.) finished with three RBIs, two base knocks and one run scored on the day. Justin Wagner (Oklahoma City, Okla.) landed two hits, swiped two bases and scored a run in the doubleheader. Kurt Picarelli (Montrose, N.Y.) notched a pair of RBIs, one base hit and a run scored while Miguel Ortiz (New Britain, Conn.) crossed the plate three times and added a base knock.

Energized by a five-run third inning, Wentworth earned an 11-4 victory in game one.

The visitors seized a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Greg Confessore and Christian Ferri both crossed the plate on a single to center by Tyler Weninger.

The hosts cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the frame, 2-1. Jeremy Wagner dashed around the bases and scored on a double to deep centerfield off the bat of Fiorentino.

Eastern Nazarene grabbed a one-run advantage with a pair of scores in the second inning, 3-2. With two runners in scoring position, Jeremy Wagner poked a two-out single into right field to drive in Luis Gonzalez (Toa Alta, Puerto Rico) and Justin Wagner.

Wentworth generated five runs in the top of third to claim a 7-3 lead as Weninger, Scott Oullette, Sam McManus and Ferri all picked up RBIs in the inning.

The Leopards tacked on two runs in the fourth to widen the gap to 9-3. Jordan Burst and McManus each lifted sacrifice flies to plate runners from third in the frame.

The Lions pushed across a run in the home half of the sixth. Gonzalez hoisted a sacrifice fly to centerfield to allow Fiorentino to tag up and score.

The guests scored twice in the seventh to extend their lead to 11-4. Jimmy Temte launched a one-out solo homer to left field and Confessore singled up the middle to drive Anthony Matera from second base.

Frank Fusco (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) pitched 2.1 innings and recorded two strikeouts. In his longest outing of the season, Brandon Wells (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) tossed 4.2 innings of relief action and fanned three batters.

In game two, Eastern Nazarene bounced back to claim its first conference win of the season with a 7-1 decision.

Wentworth opened the scoring in the top of the first, taking a 1-0 lead as Joe Hulme scampered home as Weninger reached base on a fielder's choice.

The Lions responded with three runs in the home half of the first to capture a 3-1 edge. Ortiz and Jeremy Wagner led off the inning with base knocks and both came around to score on a throwing error as Jeremy Wagner stole second base before Picarelli belted his first home run of the season, hooking a solo shot around the foul-pole in right field.

The home side added a pair of scores in the second to stretch its advantage to 5-1. Fiorentino raked a double up the middle to plate Jose Arebalo (Brentwood, Calif.) and Ortiz.

Eastern Nazarene capped off the scoring with two runs in the fourth inning. Ortiz motored home after Fiorentino pushed a sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher and the throw to first sailed down the right field line. Picarelli registered his second RBI of the game with a single through the left side of the infield to score John Oglesby (Hartsville, Tenn.).

Fiorentino hurled a six-inning gem and finished with six strikeouts in his fifth start of the season. Eric Shea (Rossmoor, Calif.) pitched a perfect frame in the seventh inning to slam the door and secure the win.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene will host Gordon in a conference doubleheader at Adams Field April 25. The Lions will honor the program's six seniors prior to the first pitch.