Baseball Sweeps Wentworth in Season-Opening Doubleheader

WEYMOUTH, Mass.- Behind a pair of strong pitching performances by seniors Brenndan Rogers (Hanson, Mass.) and Daniel Rivera (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.), the Eastern Nazarene College baseball team topped Wentworth twice in a season-opening twinbill and head coach Chris Shank's first games at the helm of the program Saturday afternoon at Libby Field.

The Lions climb to 2-0 overall to start the program's 62nd season while the Leopards dip to 2-0 with the results.

Joshua Bombard (Rutland, Mass.) posted three hits, two stolen bases, and two runs scored on the day. Bobby Fulkerson (Anaheim, Calif.) notched three base hits, two RBIs, and a run scored. Steven Pesce (Harrison, N.Y.) registered a pair of hits, five RBIs, and one run. Jaime Roldan (Boston, Mass.) finished with two base knocks, three runs, and one RBI.

In game one, Eastern Nazarene exploded for 11 runs to capture an 11-1 victory.

Eastern Nazarene raced out to a 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the first inning. After a pair of base hits and a double-steal to lead off the frame, Dylan Louviaux (Mohnton, Pa.) scampered home from third base on a groundout by Pesce.

Wentworth leveled the contest at 1-1 in the bottom of the first as Matt Bishop singled up the middle to drive in Aidan French.

The Lions reclaimed a one-run edge in the fourth inning. Andres Medina (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) collected his first collegiate RBI with a groundout to knock in Hunter Leroux-Porter (Greenland, N.H.).

Eastern Nazarene tacked on two runs in the fifth to widen the gap to 4-1. Pesce belted his fifth career home run with a two-run blast to left field that plated Fulkerson.

The Lions chalked up four runs in the sixth to extend their advantage to 8-1. Roldan and Medina roped back-to-back RBI doubles to score Bombard and Roldan. Pesce raked a one-out double to the gap in left-centerfield to drive in Brandon Guerrero (Boston, Mass.) and Medina.

Eastern Nazarene tallied three runs in the top of the seventh inning to stretch its lead to 11-1. Louviaux recorded an RBI as he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded before Fulkerson and Leroux-Porter drew bases-loaded walks.

Roger threw six innings and struck out seven batters in his 17th career start on the mound while allowing three hits. Rookie Jon Tessier (Coronado, Calif.) worked one inning of relief and registered one strikeout in his collegiate debut.

In game two, the Lions blanked the Leopards 2-0.

Eastern Nazarene got on the board in the third inning to seize a 1-0 edge. Guerrero crossed the dish as Fulkerson reached on an infield single with two outs.

The Lions doubled their lead to 2-0 with a run in the top of the seventh. Roldan scurried home from third base on a groundout by Guerrero.

Rivera tossed a complete-game shutout and fanned a career-high 13 while scattering three hits with zero walks in his sixth career start.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene will square off against Plymouth State February 25 for the first time in program history.