Babson Park, MA --- Senior Sean Minor (Sherman Oaks, CA) tossed a eight strong innings and sophomore David Trujillo (Sutton, MA) belted a three-run homer as the WPI baseball team opened its 2012 NEWMAC conference schedule with a 10-2 victory over host Babson on a dreary Friday afternoon. With the win, the Engineers push their record to 9-3 this spring and 1-0 in conference play while Babson slips to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in NEWMAC action.

WPI opened the game with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the first. A Nick Bean (Middleboro, MA) single brought home Tim Erlandson (Hudson, MA) and Trujillo's sacrifice fly plated John Flynn (Albion, ME).  Babson countered with an unearned run of its own in the bottom of the second when Sean Cleary's (Milton, MA) double down the right field line chased home Travis Jonasson (Needham, MA).

The Crimson and Gray effectively put the game out of reach with a four-run third inning.  After the hosts did not get an out after an error on a potential inning-ending double play, Trujillo made them pay by smashing a three-run home run to right field.  Kyle Bartosik (Midland Park, NJ) knocked home Mitch McClune (Pembroke, MA) with the frame's final tally with a single to center.  

Babson sliced the lead to 6-2 an inning later on a RBI ground out.  WPI added insurance markers with a pair of multiple-run innings.  Matt Blakeman (Bedford, NH) laced a run-producing single and Flynn registered a sacrifice fly in the sixth while Blakeman smashed a two-run double in the eighth inning.

Minor upped his record to 2-1 on the season while earning his 15th career victory.  The senior right hander scattered three hits and allowed just one earned run while walking just one.  Freshman Taylor Landry (Kennebunk, ME) worked a perfect ninth inning for the Engineers while Flynn, Sam Miraglia (West Babylon, NY) and Steve Petry (Worcester, MA) each tallied two hits.

Kyle Lyon (Flemington, NJ) (1-1) was saddled with the loss for Babson.  Just four of the junior's eight runs allowed were earned.  Billy Miller (Sagamore Beach, MA) and Conor Kortmann (Manalapan, NJ) joined Cleary with hits for the Beavers.

The two teams will continue their three-game series tomorrow with a noon doubleheader at Babson.  WPI will be the home team in both contests.