Auburndale, FL --- Sophomore Steven Gallagher (Coventry, RI) batted 6-for-9 on the day and graduate student Anthony Capuano (Stoneham, MA) launched a three-run homer for WPI in game two to key a non-conference baseball split with Husson Friday at the RussMatt Invitational. The Engineers (5-3) rebounded from a 5-4 loss in the opener to take game two 12-3.

The Boynton Hillers scored a pair in the first behind back-to-back RBI doubles by Gallagher and junior Matt Howard (Worcester, MA). The second inning saw senior Connor Kurtz (Lunenburg, MA) cap off a manufactured run with a sacrifice bunt in the second to make it a 3-0 ballgame. Junior Evan Lacroix (Methuen, MA) reached on a leadoff double and was moved to third with a fly to right by sophomore Austin Lindner (W. Windsor, NJ) to setup the opportunity. The Eagles plated a pair in the bottom of the second with a double.

WPI forged ahead in a six-run fourth, highlighted by a 2-RBI double by Gallagher and Capuano's fifth career home run. Senior Nick Comei (Haverhill, MA) drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth. Sophomore Ryan Tropeano (Pembroke, MA) lifted a sacrifice fly to right and Gallagher followed with a run-producing single in the seventh. Husson put a final tally on the board in the last half inning.

Gallagher, who also drove in four and scored twice, hit two doubles. Kurtz went 2-for-3 with a double, a sacrifice bunt and a pair of runs scored while Lindner doubled and crossed home plate three times. Tropeano hit a sacrifice fly and added a pair of runs as well. Howard and Lacroix accounted for the remainder of the Engineers six doubles and Comei turned the game-ending double play. Junior Drew Gelinas (Saco, ME) allowed three hits and struck out three over a career-high five innings as sophomores Tyler Weiss (Monroe, CT) and Robert Chase (Grand Isle, VT) each worked a frame for the Engineers.

In the much closer first game, Comei went 3-for-4 with a home run, a pair of RBI and a pair of runs scored to extend his multi-hit streak to five games. Gallagher (2-for-4, double) added a run and an RBI. Junior Steven D'Agostino (Worcester, MA) yielded seven hits and fanned four in the no decision. Senior Dan Bettigole (South Windsor, CT) absorbed the loss.

Husson plated three right away. Comei responded with his third career round-tripper, and second versus Husson, for a 3-1 game after a full inning. It remained that way until the Eagles added one in the fifth. WPI evened it up in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a string of four consecutive one-out hits. Tropeano tripled and came home on a Comei single. Gallagher and Howard then connected on back-to-back RBI doubles. Husson produced the game-winner with a two-out triple in the sixth. Gallagher reached on a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh; however, an infield grounder ended the game.

The Crimson and Gray face Ohio Northern tomorrow in a 9am getaway day doubleheader.