A three-run third inning for the Golden Bears would catapult them to a 3-2 victory over the Suffolk University Baseball team on a chilly Tuesday afternoon at Western New England University.
Sophomore Steve Buckley's (Monroe, Conn.) two-run triple off the centerfield fence capped off the only scoring inning for Western New England as they would hold on for the non-league victory.
Senior Mike Lopisuno (West Islip, N.Y.) escaped a bases loaded jam with no outs in the fifth innings as he earned the win in relief to move to 4-0 on the season, while Western New England improves to 10-5.
Suffolk left nine runners on base and wasted a solid start by sophomore Josh Desai (Shrewsbury, Mass.) to fall to 13-3 on the season.
Suffolk would threaten in each of the first two innings as they had runners on the corners in the first with two outs, and couldn't score and then failed to plate a run in the second inning as sophomore J.C. Collette (Amesbury, Mass.) led the inning off with a double.
The Rams would finally get on the board in the third inning as senior Chris Stanley (Placentia, Calif.) singled to right to drive in sophomore Jake Cintolo (Wrentham, Mass.) for the game's first run.
Desai cruised through the first two innings and then ran into some trouble in the third as senior Tom Booth (Milford, Conn.) led the inning off with an infield single. Junior Jeff Schult (Wappinger Falls, N.Y.) would follow him with a single to left before senior Matt Anthonis (Guilford, Conn.) advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Senior Mike Rubino (Northford, Conn.) would even the game at one run a piece as he continued the inning with a single to left. Buckley then connected on the big hit, which turned out to be the difference in the ballgame as his triple made it a 3-1 game at the time. Western New England would manage to load the bases from there with back to back walks, but Desai was able to work his way out of any further trouble.
The sophomore lefty would settle in for Suffolk as he only allowed three singles in the remainder of his outing, but the Golden Bears bullpen preserved the lead for the remainder of the contest. Desai took his lone blemish of the year on his record as he moves to 2-1. Through seven innings pitched, he allowed three runs on eight hits while striking out six in the game.
Suffolk would threaten in the fifth as junior Mac Jacobson (Norfolk, Mass.) led the inning off with one of his two walks on the day. Cintolo would follow with a double in the right field corner chasing Western New England sophomore starter Trevor Breton (Enfield, Conn.) from the game. Lupisuno would enter and walk senior Mike Cunningham (Syosset, N.Y.) to load the bases, but would retire the next three hitters he faced. Collette picked up an RBI in the inning with a groundout for the last scoring play of the game.
Senior Kevin Jefferis (Cheshire, Conn.) pitched a perfect ninth inning for his first save of the season.
Western New England collected three hits on the day as Anthonis, Booth and junior Steve Ambrosino (Laurel Hollow, N.Y.) each had a pair.
Cintolo led Suffolk with two hits, including the double as the Rams had six hits in the game, but also drew six base on balls.
Suffolk will be back in action on Wednesday afternoon in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) double header. They will play their home opener at Adams Field in Quincy as they host Lasell College beginning at 2:00pm.