Western New England opens defense of its TCCC title with a sweep at Salve Regina

NEWPORT, R.I. - Three-time defending conference baseball champion Western New England College swept a pair of The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) games at Salve Regina University today in Newport (18-3 and 8-1). The Golden Bears went on the road to be the "home" team due to unplayable conditions on their Springfield campus.

In Game One, Salve Regina (4-8; 0-2 TCCC) plated two runs in its first at-bat as senior Charles Matarazzo (Montville, N.J.) led off with an infield single. He came home with the game's first run on a triple by senior Alex Melcher (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.). Melcher was immediately delivered on a single to left field from classmate Tom Glynn (Woodbridge, N.Y.).

The Golden Bears tied the score in their first at-bat. Senior Tony Trubia (Tolland, Conn.) doubled in the first run. A groundout produced the next Golden Bear run before the inning ended with Trubia out at home plate attempting to advance on an errant pitch.

Both teams were scoreless in the 2nd, but Western New England put up its first of two six-run frames in the 3rd. Mike Rubino (Northford, Conn.) led off with his second hit of the game. Ryan Dudzinski (Bristol, Conn.) contributed his first of four RBI with a bases-loaded walk.

Rubino and Trubia both collected three hits in the opener and combined for seven runs scored. Zach Cloft (Glastonbury, Conn.) earned a win in his first decision, striking out seven Seahawks in five innings pitched. It was the first meeting of the two teams since WNEC won the TCCC title game, 8-5, last May against Salve Regina in Springfield.

In Game Two, Seahawk starter Brandon Bursie (Smithfield, R.I.) struck out eight Golden Bears (his first six outs came via the K), but Western New England reached him for an unearned run in the 2nd inning. WNEC starter Evan Michaud (Windsor Locks, Conn.) blanked the Seahawks in his six innings of work to earn the victory. Michaud struck out nine and limited the Seahawks to three hits.

Western New England (6-4; 2-0 TCCC) scored seven runs in the 5th inning, all with two outs. A double by Dudzinski brought in two runs before an innocent-looking fly ball found grass just inside the right-field foul line for a bases-clearing double for Casey Dadio (Branford, Conn.).

Mike Taylor (Andover, Mass.) went 3-for-3 in the nightcap with two RBI.

Salve Regina avoided its third shutout of the season as pinch-hitter Daniel Donohue (Westbury, N.Y.) doubled to left field to bring home Stephen Collins (Sudbury, Mass.) who had pinch-run for Jason Sluberski (Verona, N.J.) after the senior DH stroked an opposite-field single.

The Seahawks stay home to host Becker College in a non-league game on Tuesday, while Western New England is scheduled to host Curry College tomorrow.