Game #1 - Babson 1, WPI 0
Game #2 - Babson 1, WPI 0 (10)

Game #1 Box Score
Game #2 Box Score

Babson Park, MA --- The Babson College pitching staff allowed just seven hits over 17 scoreless innings as the Beavers swept a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) baseball doubleheader against WPI at Govoni Field on Saturday afternoon. Babson, which played as the visiting team in both contests, won game one, 1-0, behind a one-hit shutout from first-year Andrew Aizenstadt (Norwell, Mass.) and then took game two, 1-0, in 10 innings thanks to a combined shutout by junior pitchers Jeff Wojnar (Bellaire, Texas) and Matt Barton (Washingtonville, N.Y.). 

With the sweep, Babson improved to 14-7 overall and 5-1 in the conference, while WPI dropped to 10-13 overall and 2-4 in the NEWMAC. 

Aizenstadt (4-0) was masterful in game one, allowing just one hit and two hit batsmen while striking out four in seven innings. The Engineers' only hit came in the bottom of the second, when senior Brandon Steacy (Framingham, Mass.) doubled off the wall in center with two outs. Only two other baserunners would reach against the Babson righthander, as sophomore Cody McGregor (Westfield, Mass.) was hit by a pitch with two outs in the fourth and first-year Bryan Watkins (Belmont, Mass.) was hit with two away in the fifth. In all three instances, Aizenstadt retired the final batter of the inning to preserve his first collegiate shutout. 

Senior Brian Duncan (West Suffield, Conn.) was nearly as good on the mound for WPI, scattering six hits and one walk while fanning three in seven innings. His only blemish came in the top of the fourth, when junior Bryan Evans (Bellaire, Texas) singled up the middle with two outs and scored all the way from first on a double down the line in right by sophomore Brian Scanlon (Lawrenceville, N.J.). The loss dropped Dunan's record to 1-3 on the year.

Game two featured another magnificent pitching duel between Wojnar and WPI senior Ryan Smalanskas (Shrewsbury, Mass.). Wojnar pitched nine brilliant innings of shutout ball, allowing just six hits, walking one, and hitting a batter while striking out six. He pitched out of two early jams, stranding runners at first and second in the first and then leaving men on second and third in the second. From that point on, no WPI runner would reach scoring position until the bottom of the ninth, when Wojnar got the final out with men on first and second.

Smalanskas was also outstanding for WPI, giving up one unearned run on only five hits and one hit batsmen while striking out five in 9 1/3 innings. He also pitched out of numerous jams throughout the contest, leaving a runner at third in the third and fourth innings, a man on second in the sixth, and runners at second and third in the seventh. However, Babson finally broke through in the top of the 10^th, as senior Robbie Leer (Edina, Minn.) reached on a one-out error and moved to second on a single to center by sophomore Peter O'Toole (Salem, Mass.). Senior pinch-hitter Andrew Nodine (Portland, Maine) then drew a walk off sophomore reliever Nolan Murphy (Shrewsbury, Mass.) to load the bases, and senior Steve Tahmoush (Arlington, Mass.) greeted WPI's third pitcher - sophomore Thomas Whiting (Framington Hills, Mich.) - with a sacrifice fly to right that scored Leer with the game's only run.

Barton came on in relief of Wojnar (1-2) and retired the side in order in the bottom of the 10^th to earn his first save of the season. Smalanskas took the tough-luck loss for WPI, dropping his record to 1-3.

WPI is back in action on Monday, hosting cross-town rival Worcester State at 3:30pm.  WPI will be the road team in the second contest between the two squads this spring.

Release Courtesy Babson Sports Information