Men's Athlete of the Week

Scott McNee - Baseball - Junior - Falmouth, MA

Scott McNee of the baseball team has been named the male athlete of the week for the week of April 7th through April 13th.  McNee dominated on the diamond and helped lead the Engineers to a 3-1-1 week.  He banged out four hits in an 8-2 win over Worcester and blasted three home runs to register five RBI in a 13-12 win over Brandeis.  McNee went a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBI in a NEWMAC win over MIT on Sunday afternoon.  In five games he went 12-for-22 (.545) at the plate while recording ten RBI and tallying a eight runs scored.  Baseball is now 13-14-1 overall and 3-6 in NEWMAC play and will return to the field on Tuesday when they travel to Wheaton for a 3:30 game.

Women's Athletes of the Week

Amanda Tichy - Track and Field - Senior - Norwich, CT

Liz Schreiber - Track and Field - Sophomore - Ashfield, MA

Amanda Tichy and Liz Schreiber of the women's track and field team have been named the female athletes of the week for the week of April 7th through April 13th.  Tichy, a senior, and Schreiber, a sophomore, each broke a school record on Friday afternoon at a tri-meet at WPI's Norcross Track to help the Engineers finished in third place with 54 points.  Tichy placed first in the pole vault, breaking the previous school mark of 9-0.25 which was held by Amanda Ruksznis, while Schriber finished in a time of 1:10.91 in the 400 meter hurdles to eclipse previous standard of 1:11.1 set by Alison Houck in 2003.  Women's Track and Field will head to Connecticut College for the Silfen Invitational on Saturday.  The first gun will fire at noon.

Baseball (13-14-1 Overall, 3-6 NEWMAC)

Scott McNee (Falmouth, MA) banged out four hits and Conor Fahey (Cumberland, RI) did not allow an earned run over eight innings of work as WPI defeated Worcester State 8-2 in non-conference baseball action on Monday afternoon.  Down 1-0 and having gone 24 innings over four games without a run, the Engineers manufactured a pair of runs in the top of the fifth.  After a walk and a pair of bunt singles loaded the bases, a Bryan Watkins (Belmont, MA) fielder's choice and a Mark Dignum (Albany, NY) sacrifice fly gave the Crimson and Gray the lead for good.  WPI added a pair of runs an inning later on a Ryan Rainone (Oakville, CT) two-run double and then added a single run in the eighth and three more in the ninth, highlighted by a Cody McGregor (Westfield, MA) two-run single, to put the game away.  Fahey was solid on the hill, scattering 10 hits but walking just one.  The junior right hander notched five strikeouts before yielding to Thomas Whiting (Farmington Hills, MI) in the ninth.  The Engineer's good fortune continued into Wednesday when Dignum laced a two-run walkoff single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give host WPI a 13-12 victory over Brandeis in another non-conference tilt.  Trailing 12-11, McGregor led off the bottom of the ninth with a single to center.  Brandeis induced a potential double play grounder but the throw to second was high and the runners advanced to second and third.  Two batters later, Dignum, who last season delivered the only championship in the 105-year history of WPI baseball with a two-run walkoff single to defeat Suffolk for the ECAC New England crown, sent a gapper into left center plating McGregor and pinch runner Scott MacDonald (Gorham, ME).  The game was a wild affair throughout with each team notching at least one run in seven of the nine innings.  WPI did much of its damage with the long ball as McNee belted three homers and Mike Swanton (Foxboro, MA) smashed two.  The duo combined for nine of the Crimson and Gray's 13 RBI.  Brian Duncan (West Suffield, CT) picked up the win for WPI, tossing 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to improve to 2-3.  On Friday, WPI rallied with four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to force an 8-8 tie with visiting Westfield State in non-conference baseball action.  The two teams played a scoreless tenth inning before the game was called due to darkness.  Trailing 8-4 entering the ninth inning, McNee sliced the advantage in half with a one-out single down the left field line that plated Watkins and Swanton.  After a McGregor double put two runners in scoring position, Paul Galligan (Weymouth, MA) delivered a two-run double to left center to tie the contest.  Following an intentional walk, Westfield reliever notched a pair of strikeouts to force extra innings.  Lyle Miller (Milford, CT) put together a solid performance for WPI, yielding two runs over seven strong innings.  WPI Baseball wrapped up their successful week on Sunday, splitting with MIT.  The Crimson and Gray exploded for seven runs in their final at bat to power ahead to a 13-7 victory in game one.  WPI scored three runs in the first inning of the opener.  Taking advantage of two walks and a double steal, the Engineers plated runs behind three straight singles.  McNee roped a based hit to left to ignite the scoring while McGregor and Galligan followed with run-scoring hits of their own.  MIT answered with two runs in the bottom of the second, but WPI would retaliate as McNee singled and stole second to spark a two-run inning for WPI in the third.  Worcester's Engineers put the first game out of reach after exploding for seven runs in their final at bat.  Watkins and McGregor highlighted the inning with two-run singles while Matt Moreau (Manchester, NH) and McNee also picked up an RBI during the frame.  Fahey went the distance in game one while improving his season record to 7-1.  McNee finished 3-for-3 with a pair of runs, RBI and stolen bases while reaching base in all five of his plate appearances.  McGregor closed 4-for-5 and drove home a game-high four runs.  WPI is now 13-14 overall and 3-6 in NEWMAC play and will return to the diamond on Tuesday when they travel to Wheaton for a 3:30 game.

Softball (12-15 Overall, 3-9 NEWMAC)

Sara Johnson's (Eastham, MA) first career home run in game one and Heather Hassett's (Oxford, MA) one-hit shutout in the nightcap helped WPI sweep Nichols by scores of 5-4 and 8-0 in non-conference softball action on Tuesday afternoon.  Trailing 4-1 early in the opener, the Engineers inched back with a Meg Foley (Belchertown, MA) RBI single in the third before Johnson belted a two-run shot to center field an inning later to tie the game. Four batters later in the fourth inning, Sara Migdal's (Galway, NJ) run-producing single plated Nicole Maglione (Charlton, MA) with what would prove to be the game-winning run.  WPI freshman pitcher Lindsay Brown (Westfield, NJ) closed the door from there, allowing just one hit over the final three innings en route to improving to 8-4.  In the second game, Hasset was outstanding, allowing just a leadoff single in the third.  The senior yielded just three walks and struck out five, while upping her record to 4-7.  The Engineers jumped out of the gates quickly tallying five runs in the bottom of the first.  Briana Doherty (Woburn, MA) and Migdal both notched RBI singles before Foley smashed a two-run homer.  Eight different hitters registered hits in the nightcap for WPI with Maglione and Doherty each collecting two.  Foley ended the day with three hits and runs driven in on the afternoon.  On Friday, the Engineers were swept by Babson in a doubleheader by scores of 4-3 and 4-0.  The Beavers grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the first inning of the game, however, WPI knotted the score in the top of the second as Jen Richards (Hampstead, NH) singled in classmate Migdal, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on an eventual RBI single to right by Johnson.  The Engineers grabbed their only lead of the afternoon in the top of the fourth, when Richards blasted a double to left, went to third on a single up the middle by first-year Sam Wentzell (Tyngsboro, MA), and scored on an infield hit by senior Dougherty.  Meanwhile, the Babson offense would score two runs to take the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth on back to back singles with the bases loaded to give the hosts the eventual 4-3 win.  Brown went the distance on the mound for WPI, giving up four runs on nine hits while fanning one.  Game two featured a dominating pitching performance from the Beavers who held WPI to just three hits and a walk while striking out 10 in five scoreless innings of work.  Richards finished off a strong day at the plate with two of WPI's four hits.  Hassett absorbed the loss on the mound for the Engineers, despite allowing just one earned run on five hits and striking out seven in six innings of work.  WPI concluded their week with a tough 4-2, 9-8 doubleheader sweep to Springfield on Sunday.  In game two, the Pride, who trailed 7-6 in game two entering the top of the seventh, forced extra frames on a sacrifice fly.  After both teams went scoreless in the eighth inning, SC took a 9-7 advantage in the top of the ninth on an RBI double.  The Engineers would not go quietly, slicing the lead to 9-8 on a run-producing double from Maglione before drawing a pair of walks to load the bases.  On the next pitch, Richards sent a laser to third that was snagged by the Pride third baseman who promptly stepped on third to complete the double play.  The final out came on a sinking liner to left.  Hassett took the loss for WPI despite registering 10 strikeouts, one short of her career-high.  In the opener, Springfield jumped ahead to an early 4-0 lead on two-run homers in the first two innings.  Maglione kept WPI close with a home run in the third and a run on a fielder's choice in the sixth, but could not manufacturer another run.  Brown was saddled with the loss for WPI.  Softball travels to Fitchburg State for a 4:30pm match-up on Monday.

Men's Crew

Men's Crew competed with Connecticut College, Williams and MIT for the Donahue Cup on Worcester's Lake Quinsigamond on Saturday.  MIT's varsity eight walked away with the cup, rowing the 2000 meter course in 6:09 to take first place.  The WPI varsity eight of Connor McGrath (Troy, NY), Scott Gary (Lubbock, TX), Neil Lettenberger (Oakland, ME), Henry Moore (Jaffrey, NH), Arthur Gager (Kennebunk, ME), Sebastien Cohn (Orinda, CA), Tobin McGee (Rye, NY), Andrew Sandefer (New Orleans, LA) and cox Bethany Bouchard (Nashua, NH) finished in third place (6:12.80).  The men's varsity four of Greg Hesler (Glastonbury, CT), Marshall Berklow (Devens, MA), Jack Sternal (Westfield, NJ), Walter Woodington (Natick, MA) and coxswain Eileen Gribouski (Sutton, MA) rowed to a first place finish with a time of 7:24, to defeat Connecticut College and pick up a victory for WPI.  The second eight comprised of Drew Oprea (Hicksville, NY), Berk Birand (Istanbul, Turkey), Jeffrey Onderdonk (Colechester, CT), Nick Vitello (Tolland, CT), Ben Johnson (Northford, CT), Max French (Harwinton, CT), Don Havener (Turner, ME), Evan May (Marshfield, MA) and Brenna Colleary (Southboro, MA) recorded a time of 7:52.30 to take home second place while the third eight of Garret Cavanaugh (Townsend, MA), Tom Parenteau (Scarborough, ME), Burak Derkunt (Istanbul, Turkey), Matt Kielbasa (Ludlow, MA), Elan Pelletier (Georgetown, MA), Andrew Emerson (York, ME), Drew Domnarski (Pawcatuck, CT), Josh Wimble (Albans, VT) and Nina Bass (Trumbull, CT) placed second (6:52.80).  The second varsity four of Oprea, Birand, Johnson, Vitello and Colleary wrapped up WPI's second win of the day, posting a time of 7:52.30 to defeat Connecticut College.  On Sunday, the varsity eight rowed an outstanding 2000 meters to record a time of 6:02.90 and defeat Bates and URI and take home a victory.  It was not the only first place finish that the Engineers would see as the third varsity eight picked up with a win with a 6:36.03 finish.  The second eight defeated URI and finished just four tenths of a second behind Bates to round up second place.  Men's Crew returns to Lake Quinsigamond on Saturday to face off against Trinity, Bates, UNH, Washington (MD) and Vassar beginning at 8am.

Men's Outdoor Track and Field

Men's Track and Field tallied 90.5 points to finish third in a tri-meet with Coast Guard and Springfield at WPI's Norcross Track.  The Bears finished as meet winner with 174.5 points while the Pride registered 125 points to place second. Sophomore Ben Roy (Buxton, ME) paced WPI with a first place finish in the 110 meter hurdles (15.44) and third place in the 200 meter dash (22.99) while junior Kevin Jillson (East Sandwich, MA) placed first in the 3000 meter steeplechase (9:38.10). Senior Shaun Price (Boston, MA) also notched a top finish in the triple jump (42-11.75).  Distance runner Chris McCann (Haverhill, MA) took home second in the 1500 meter run (3:59.98) while Joe Krasinskas (Sutton, MA) sped to second place in the 400 meter hurdles (57.45).  Teammates Fran Collins (Springfield, MA) and Jarret Arredondo (Somerville, MA) combined to finish second (45-09) and third (44-06.75) in the shot put and Arredondo went on to place third in the hammer with a 167-03 throw.  Other top finishes included Matija Zelic (Westboro, MA) in the long jump (19-11.50), Jeff Baker (Wallingford, CT) in the javelin (175-08), Lou Grillion (West Springfield, MA) in the 110 meter hurdles (17.40) and a second place finish from the 4 x 100 relay team of Devin Auclair (Marlboro, MA), Tyson Nason (Gorham, ME), Roy and Price.  Roy will compete in the Holy Cross Decathlon on Wednesday and Thursday while the rest of the team heads to Connecticut College for the Silfen Invitational on Saturday. The action begins at noon.

Women's Outdoor Track and Field

Senior Amanda Tichy (Norwich, CT) and sophomore Liz Schreiber (Ashfield, MA) each broke a school record while Krista Baker (Medway, MA) won the discus with a toss of 115-1.  Tichy placed first in the pole vault breaking the previous school mark of 9-0.25 which was held by Amanda Ruksznis while Schreiber finished third overall with a time of 1:10.91 in the 400 meter hurdles. The previous standard of 1:11.1 was set by Alison Houck in 2003.  Meg Murphy (Perkasie, PA) crossed the finish line second in the 1500 meter run (4:55.85) while Stacy Rudolf (Somers, CT) and Amanda Gurnon (Tolland, CT) placed second (17.91) and third (18.11) in the 100 meter hurdles, respectively.  Rudolf later picked up third in the high jump (4-09.75) and Baker grabbed third in the shot put with a throw of 30-07.50.  Rounding out the day for the Engineers was a third place finish (4:22.93) from the 4 x 400 relay team of Schreiber, Anne Rocheleau (Shrewsbury, MA), Danielle Volpe (Chelmsford, MA) and Beth Hegarty (Springfield, MA).  Springfield finished the tri-meet with a 217 points while Coast Guard notched 97 and WPI ended the meet with 54.  Rudolf and Gurnon will compete in the Holy Cross Heptathlon on Wednesday and Thursday while the rest of the team will head to Connecticut College for the Silfen Invitational on Saturday.  The first gun will fire at noon.

Women's Crew

Women's Crew competed for the Donahue Cup on Saturday versus Williams, Connecticut College and Simmons.  Williams went home with rights to the cup, defeating both Simmons and WPI with a time of 6:59.  WPI's varsity eight Katie Siering (Sheridan, OR), Amanda Ruksznis (Sidney, ME), Stephanie Kavrakis (Long Beach, NY), Kyla Bye-Nagle (Hanau, Germany), Chelsea Brown (Utica, NY), Bridget Stevens (Cropseyville, NY), Laura Rockett (Pembroke, MA), Simone Staley (Albany, NY) and Allison Dinitto (Wakefield, MA) finished in third with a time of 7:37.50.  The novice four combination of Shiela Muriel (Long Beach, CA), Brown, Stevens, Amanda Connor (Bolton, MA) and Staley took home a fourth place finish (9:07.60) while the varsity four team of DiNitto, Ruksznis, Siering, Bye-Nagle and Lindsay Wood (Fairfield, CT) also finished in fourth, posting a time of 8:34.50.  Saturday was a historic day for WPI.  After the races, a new boat - The Barbara Grant Donahue - was dedicated.  Women's Crew will return to the water on Saturday when they compete at the NEWMAC Championships beginning at 8am.