Crosstown Rival WPI Edges Baseball, 5-3

Worcester, MA --- Freshman DJ Ouellette (Watertown, CT) was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and classmate Anthony Capuano (Stoneham, MA) scored three runs as they both helped host WPI defeat crosstown rival, 5-3, Worcester State at the Lyons Baseball Diamond this afternoon.

WPI (11-21) started off the games scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning.

After senior Shane Sampson (Worcester, MA/W. Boylston) drew a walk and swiped second, he was driven in by Capuano on a double in the right centerfield gap. Capuano then came around to score on a RBI single by Ouellette.

Worcester State (12-15) cut the lead in half with a single run in the top of the third. With runners on the corners, freshman Dennis Duplessis (Marlboro, MA) scampered home on a double-steal.

The Engineers made the score 4-1 when the Engineers used some small ball to manufacture two scores.

After Sampson got on with a single and Capuano reached on a free pass, both moved into scoring position with a sacrifice. Sampson then scampered home on a wild pitch and Capuano followed when he crossed the plate on a squeeze play by sophomore Steve Petry (Worcester, MA/St. John's).

With the bases loaded later on in the inning, senior Cruz Rosado (Clinton, MA) got out of the jam by ringing up the final batter of the inning on strikes.

Cruz did an effective job over the next two innings by keeping the Boynton Hiller bats at bay when he retired six out of his next nine batters and stranded two WPI runners in scoring position in the fifth.

The effort allowed the Lancers to inch closer with two runs for the 4-3 score in the top of the seventh.

With the bases juiced, junior Rob MacDonald (Waltham, MA) came through with a two-out single up the middle to plate Duplessis and sophomore David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA).
WPI answered with a single run in the bottom of the seventh for some insurance when

Ouelette rapped out a bloop single to left to score Capuano. The Boynton Hillers nearly tacked on another run, but sophomore Zach George (Attleboro, MA) gunned down Ouelette at home plate to end the threat.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Engineers put runners on the corners with one out, but senior Joe Piscitelli (Oxford, MA) induced a double-play to finish off the inning.

Freshman Sean Greene (Hingham, MA) hurled a scoreless ninth to preserve the lead for the hosts as he picked up his first collegiate save for the Crimson and Gray.

Junior David Trujillo (Sutton, MA) earned the win with seven strong frames for WPI. Trujillo (1-0) scattered eight hits to go with three runs (two earned), a trio of walks and one strikeout. Greene tossed the final two innings.

Cruz shouldered the setback for the Lancers as he gave up five earned runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings of work. He finished with four punch outs, but walked eight batters.

Junior Sean Kelly (Shewsbury, MA) was 3-for-5 while Sampson scored twice for the Engineers. Sophomore Steve Wallace (Auburn, MA) tallied three base-knocks for WSU as MacDonald chipped in with two singles.

The two squads were even in hits (10-10) and left the same number of men on base (11-11).

Both teams will play contests in Worcester County tomorrow at 3:30 PM. Worcester State hosts MIT at the Lyons Diamond while WPI entertains Becker at Rochdale Field.