Johnson & Wales defeats WPI in 10 Innings, 5-4
Johnson & Wales 5, WPI 4 (10 Innings)
East Providence RI --- Senior Alex Hurley (East Hartford, CT) set the Johnson & Wales record for hits in a career with a two-run double in the third, his 200th career hit, to help propel the Wildcats to a thrilling 5-4 victory against Worcester Polytechnic Institute in a non-conference contest at Pierce Field on Tuesday afternoon.
WPI took the early lead when an RBI single by junior Ryan Rainone (Oakville, CT) gave the visiting Engineers a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first. Johnson & Wales responded in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Justin Maldonado (South Burlington, VT), knotting the game at 1-1. The Wildcats then tallied three runs in the bottom of the third, including Hurley's two run double to take the 4-1 advantage. JWU held the lead until the top of the seventh when WPI rallied to tie the game. The Engineers cut the lead to 4-2 on an RBI single by sophomore Scott McNee (Falmouth, MA) and tied the game 4-4 on a two run double by freshman Lyle Miller (Milford, CT).
After a scoreless eighth and ninth, junior Mike Manley (Verona, NJ) led off the bottom of the tenth with a double. The Wildcats then loaded the bases and pushed the winning run across when junior Brad Jackson (Setauket, NY) was hit by a pitch, giving the team the 5-4 victory.
Freshman Sal Savo (Ansonia, CT) picked up the win in relief for Johnson & Wales, pitching two and two third scoreless innings.
With the win, Johnson & Wales is now 7-8 while WPI falls to 4-9 for the year. The Wildcats will return to action on Wednesday, March 8th when they host UMass Boston in a non-conference contest at 3:30 pm. WPI is scheduled to host Worcester State on Thursday at 3pm.
Information courtesy of Johnson & Wales Sports Information office