Cambridge, MA --- Junior Evan Lacroix (Methuen, MA) batted 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored, including what proved to be the game-winner, as WPI went on the road to defeat industry rival MIT 7-3 Tuesday afternoon in a NEWMAC divisional crossover baseball game at Fran O'Brien Field.  

With the win, WPI improves to 16-8 overall and 5-3 in conference contests while MIT sports an 11-6 ledger on the season and a 6-3 mark in the eight-team loop.

Worcester's Engineers won four of the first five innings. Sophomore Ryan Tropeano (Pembroke, MA) swiped third and advanced home on a miscue in the first. With the bases loaded in the second everyone moved up, including Lacroix who scampered home thanks to a two-out wild pitch. The junior went on to double in a run in the third before scoring on another wild pitch in the fifth.

WPI made it a 6-0 ballgame with two more in the seventh as Lacroix and sophomore Austin Lindner (W. Windsor, NJ) each connected on an RBI single. MIT then made the inning even with a sacrifice fly by freshman Matt Johnston (Portola, CA) and an RBI double down the left field line. The eighth was also a wash as sophomore Steven Gallagher (Coventry, RI) and junior Garrett Greenwood (Edmond, OK) traded RBI hits. Senior Mike Duclos (Greenfield, MA) later induced a trio of infield outs in a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth.

Gallagher (3-for-4, RBI, stolen base, 2 runs), Tropeano (2-for-4, double, walk, stolen base, run) and Lindner (2-for-5, RBI) also had a multi-hit game for the Crimson and Gray. Graduate student Anthony Capuano (Stoneham, MA) walked twice and senior Nick Comei (Haverhill, MA) stole a base. Defensively, Comei and junior Matt Howard (Worcester, MA) turned a double play.

Freshman Keith Scales (Upper Marlboro, MD) allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four in seven innings. It was his first collegiate start and NEWMAC win. Senior Mike Vaitkunas (Auburn, MA) manned the mound in the eighth and Duclos took the ninth.

Junior Austin Filiere (Chandler, AZ) was the only Cambridge Engineer with a pair of hits as he went 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored. Senior John Drago (Peoria, AZ) and junior Max Lancaster (Attleboro, MA) each had a hit and drew a walk while sophomore Alec Kushner (Cooper City, CA) doubled and Johnston was credited with a sacrifice fly.

Freshman Jared Tramontano (Corona, CA) struck out six in four innings followed by sophomore Jack Murphy (Pleasanton, CA) with three strikeouts in three frames and classmate Nick Charchut (Santa Monica, CA) with three more in the final two frames.  

WPI heads to Emerson to complete the NEWMAC crossover series with a 3:30pm single game Thursday. MIT travels to Worcester State tomorrow for a 3:30pm non-conference tilt. 

--J Geils --