DAVENPORT, Fla. – Junior Christian Peruzzi (Plymouth, Mass.) had four hits and drove in three runs as the Wentworth Institute of Technology baseball team opened the 2023 season with a doubleheader against Ursinus. The Leopard comeback came up just short, dropping a 7-6 decision in the opener, and lost, 12-7, in the nightcap.

GAME ONE:  Ursinus 7, Wentworth 6

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Ursinus took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI groundout. Wentworth threatened to tie the game in the top of the second inning, as Peruzzi led off with a walk and went to second on a freshman Matthew Favazzo (Lexington, Mass.) single. With two outs, both runners moved up on a passed ball, however, a fly out ended the threat.
• The Bears put up five runs in the bottom of the fourth, scoring twice on wild pitches, a bases-loaded walk, and a two-run single. In the top of the fifth, the Leopards broke through, scoring twice. Junior Zach Smith (Madison, N.H.) led off the inning with a single and went to second on a wild pitch. With one out, sophomore Jake Prisco (Bridgewater, Mass.) walked. One batter later, junior A.T. DiPina (Pawtucket, R.I.) delivered a two-run double, scoring both runners. With tow outs, junior Michael Petit (Sandwich, Mass.) singled home DiPina.
• After Ursinus got a run back in the bottom of the sixth, Wentworth mounted a comeback in the top of the seventh. Freshman Mike Sibert (Billerica, Mass.) led off with a single and went to second on a Prisco single. Sibert moved to third on a flyout from DiPina. Senior Brandon Sullivan (Quincy, Mass.) walked to load the bases with one out. Each baserunner moved up 90 feet, with Sibert scoring, on a balk. Petit grounded out to score Prisco and Peruzzi singled in freshman pinch runner Matt Robinson (Mystic, Conn.). Favazzo delivered a two-out single to move Peruzzi up 90 feet as the tying run, however, a strikeout ended the game.
• Junior Brodi Farinas (Lewiston, Maine) took the loss (0-1), allowing one run on two hits and striking out four in two innings. Favazzo had a pair of hits, while DiPina and Petit each drove in two runs.

GAME TWO:  Ursinus 12, Wentworth 7

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A two-run double from Ursinus in the top of the first gave the Bears a 2-0 lead. Ursinus added two runs in the third and two in the fourth to take a 6-0 lead, before scoring six times in the fifth to double its lead at 12-0.
• The bottom of the sixth saw Wentworth get two runs back as Peruzzi hit a two-run home run, which scored Petit who led off with a single.
• Junior Matt Rice (Scottsdale, Ariz.) walked to lead off the seventh inning and stole second. Rice moved to third on a freshman Alec Peruzzi (Plymouth, Mass.) single. Peruzzi stole second and, on an errant throw, Rice scored. Prisco delivered an RBI single before Robinson hit a two-run double. Senior Aaron Lundgren (Portsmouth, N.H.) had an RBI single to round out the scoring in the seventh.
• Senior Jon Campbell (Snohomish, Wash.) took the loss (0-1), striking out four over three innings. At the plate Christian Peruzzi was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI.

NOTEWORTHY

• Wentworth outhit Ursinus in both games, with an 8-4 edge in game one and a 10-7 advantage in game two.

ALL-TIME SERIES:

• Today was the fourth and fifth meetings between the two teams.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth plays WPI in a doubleheader on Monday afternoon.

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