Baseball Outlasts Brandeis in 11 Innings

WALTHAM, Mass. – Sophomore Matthew Favazzo (Billerica, Mass.) went 4-for-6 and senior Christian Peruzzi (Plymouth, Mass.) had three hits, including the 100th of his career, as the Wentworth Institute of Technology baseball team (11-4) outlasted Brandeis (4-8), 5-4, in 11 innings in non-conference action Wednesday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wentworth wasted little time getting on the board. With one out in the top of the first inning, freshman Christian Roncal (Glendale, Ariz.) walked and came around to score on a Peruzzi double. A ground out moved Peruzzi to third, however, he was stranded there when a strikeout ended the inning.
• The Leopards held the lead until the third inning when Brandeis had runners at first and third and scored on a fielder's choice. The game wasn't tied for long, however, as the Black & Gold took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth. Favazzo hit a one-out single and, after moving to second on a wild pitch, scored on a senior Michael Petit (Sandwich, Mass.) double.
• The Judges tied the game in the bottom of the sixth on a leadoff home run, however, Wentworth reclaimed the lead in the seventh inning when junior Devon Lapierre (Dover, N.H.) doubled, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a throwing error. The eighth inning saw the Leopards get a two-out RBI single from freshman Bennett Leary (Alamo, Calif.) to make it a 4-2 game.
• Brandeis threatened in the eighth inning, putting two runners on by way of an error and a walk and both were in scoring position after a wild pitch. However, freshman Brandon Farinas (Lewiston, Maine) induced a groundout to end the inning.
• Down to their final at bat, the Judges got a leadoff single and a walk to put the tying runs on base. A sacrifice bunt put both in scoring position and an error allowed both to score, tying the game at 4-all. With two outs and runners on first and second, sophomore Alec Peruzzi (Plymouth, Mass.) induced a groundout to send the game into extra innings.
• The Black & Gold had a chance to take the lead in the 10th inning. Favazzo hit a one-out double and went to third on a Petit single. After both runners stole bases, back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning. In the home half of the inning, a leadoff walk that went to second on a sacrifice bunt was stranded when Alec Peruzzi got a strikeout and a fly out to end the inning.
• With two outs in the 11th, Roncal was hit by a pitch and went to second on Christian Peruzzi's 100th career hit. Roncal came around to score on an RBI single from senior A. T. DiPina (Pawtucket, R.I.) In the bottom of the inning, Alec Peruzzi allowed a one-out walk, which was erased on a fielder's choice. With two outs and the tying runner on first, Peruzzi got a strikeout to end the game.
• In addition to Favazzo and Christian Peruzzi having each having multiple hits, Lapierre, Roncal, and Petit each had a pair of hits. Alec Peruzzi improved to 2-0, allowing two unearned runs on two hits, and striking out three in three innings. Junior Matt Ferrara (East Taunton, Mass.) pitched the first seven innings, allowing a pair of runs on seven hits, and striking out five. Senior Clayton Harper (Somerset, Mass.) pitched two-thirds of an inning, while Farinas pitched a third of an inning.

ALL-TIME SERIES:

• Today was the 24th all-time meeting between the two teams.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth opens its Commonwealth Coast Conference schedule on Friday at Gordon. The game will be played at Gordon with Wentworth playing as the "home" team.

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