WPI 12, Fitchburg State 8

Box Score 

Fitchburg, MA --- Matt Moreau (Manchester, NH) followed up his late game heroics on Tuesday with more of the same on Wednesday, blasting a three-run homer in the seventh and a two-run shot in the ninth to lift WPI (7-5) to a 14-8 come-from-behind win over Fitchburg State (6-4). The Engineers trailed 7-0 in the fourth inning before rallying for their fourth straight win.

Following a scoreless first inning, the Falcons jumped out to the early lead by tallying two runs in the second and four more in the third. Fitchburg State would tack on another run in the fourth before WPI responded at the plate.

The Engineers led off the fifth with the first five batters of the inning recording base hits. Jameson Kokolis (Manchester, NH) singled and Cody McGregor (Westfield, MA) doubled before Joe Walsh (Weymouth, MA) singled to left to drive both runners home. Paul Galligan (Weymouth, MA) and Mark Dignum (Albany, NY) each followed with singles, loading the bases. After Mike Swanton (Foxboro, MA) drove home WPI's third run on a fielder's choice, Scott McNee (Falmouth, MA) singled to right to send Dignum and Galligan home to pull WPI to within 7-5. Swanton would later score on a double steal attempt in which McNee was thrown out at second. All in all, the Engineers scored six runs on six hits in the fifth, putting them right back in the game - down only 7-6.

After the Falcons added a run in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 8-6, Kokolis, McGregor and Walsh would lead off the top of the sixth with three straight hits again, with all three reaching on singles. Walsh's base hit drove home Kokolis, while Galligan scored McGregor on a sac fly and Walsh scored on a wild pitch as the Crimson-and-Gray took the lead for good at 9-8.

Moreau took over in the seventh, launching a three-run home run after McNee and Nick Bean (Middleboro, MA) reached on singles. Moreau's shot was his first home run of the season, but he would not stay stuck on one for long. The Manchester, NH native followed another McNee hit with his second home run of the game two innings later, staking the Engineers to a 14-8 lead in the ninth inning. Both the two homers and five RBIs are career-bests for Moreau, who raised his team-high batting average to .476 in the process.

McNee was 3-for-5 on the day, scoring two runs and driving in two to boost his average to .410.  Walsh and Kokolis each had two hits and two runs scored on the day, with Walsh adding three RBIs. Galligan also had two hits, raising his average to .395. All nine starters for WPI scored at least one run on the afternoon.

Jason Forte (Carlisle, MA) picked up the win for WPI, tossing 1 2/3 innings in relief. Kyle Boucher (Manchester, NH) and Thomas Whiting (Farmington Hills, MI) combined to close out the game with four straight innings of scoreless relief for the Engineers.

WPI is back in action on Saturday, when they will play their first home games of the season in a doubleheader against cross-city and conference rival Clark (5-8). The first game is scheduled for a 12pm start with game two to follow immediately after.

Story written by Ray Cotrufo '98 - WPI Athletics Department