Baseball Endures Two Losses at Western New England
SPRINGFIELD, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College baseball team suffered a pair of setbacks at Western New England Thursday afternoon, falling 20-3 and 13-1.
The Lions sink to 13-8 on the season and 0-4 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference with the results. The Golden Bears improve to 13-4 overall and 2-0 in league play with the wins.
Joshua Bombard (Rutland, Mass.) posted two hits and scored one run on the day. Connor Simpson (Haverhill, Mass.) and Devin Haberstumpf (Forest Hills, N.Y.) each finished with one base knock and an RBI while Matthew Urena (Flushing, N.Y.) crossed the dish twice.
In the first game of the doubleheader, the home side cruised to a 20-3 victory.
The visitors opened the game with a run in the top of the first inning to claim a 1-0 edge. Haberstumpf drew a bases-loaded walk to collect his team-leading 15th RBI of the spring as Bombard trotted home.
Western New England manufactured four runs in the bottom of the frame to grab a 4-1 lead. Erik Lacaire roped a double to left to drive in Alex Loparco and Jamie Schofield. Jared Rosenblat singled to knock in Joe Cassella and Lacaire.
Eastern Nazarene cut the deficit to 4-2 with a score in the second. Dylan Louviaux (Mohnton, Pa.) tagged up and dashed home from third base as Simpson hoisted a sacrifice fly to right field.
The Golden Bears chalked up four runs in the home half of the inning to widen the gap to 8-2. B Valeriano, Ben Lacroix, Lecaire, and Loparco all crossed the dish in the frame.
The Lions plated a run in the fourth to trim the margin to 8-3 as Urena scampered home after advancing to third on a wild pitch.
The hosts erupted for nine runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to stretch their lead to 17-3. Zac Nussbaum, Cassella, Rosenblat, Schofield, Loparco, and LaCroix all picked up RBIs.
Western New England tacked on three runs in the sixth to push the score to 20-3. Rosenblat singled down the left field line to score Lacaire. Trevor Gustavon and Schofield absorbed back-to-back hit-by-pitches to drive in Mack Palmer and Rosenblat.
Brent Houle (Westfield, Mass.) started the game on the mound before Xavier Faria (Assonet, Mass.), Brandon Imonti (Tewksbury, Mass.), and Tommy Merrick (Brockton, Mass.) all made appearances out of the bullpen.
In the series finale, Eastern Nazarene mustered two base hits while Western New England racked up 10 to prevail 13-1.
The Golden Bears snared an early 1-0 edge with a run in the bottom of the first. Schofield scored as Rosenblat reached base on a fielder's choice.
The home team added four runs in the second to stretch the margin to 5-0. Valeriano crossed the dish on a balk before Schofield tripled to plate Kevin Johnson. Cassella singled to left to drive in Loparco and Schofield from second and third.
Western New England produced six runs in the third inning to extend its advantage to 11-0. Nussbaum launched a grand slam to right to knock in Valeriano, LaCroix, and Rosenblat. Lacaire landed a one-out single in left to drive in Schofield and Johnson.
The Lions got on the board in the top of fifth to narrow the gap to 11-1. Urena scurried home on a groundball off the bat of Carmody.
The Golden Bears responded with a pair of scores in the bottom of the frame to take a 13-1 lead. Loparco laced an RBI triple to knock in Schofield before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Lacaire.
Brenndan Rogers (Hanson, Mass.) started on the hill and Briley Seiter (Bellevue, Ky.) and Merrick both made relief appearances.
Up next, Eastern Nazarene is slated to return home to take on Roger Williams April 7.