East Boston, MA --- WPI baseball led early but couldn't hold on, dropping a 7-3 decision to Suffolk on Thursday afternoon at Memorial Park. The Engineers fell to 7-4 on the season, while the Rams improved to 5-9.

Andrew Cash (Marlboro, MA) led WPI at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two RBI, while Tommy Burns (Morris Plains, NJ), Jacob Wiberg (Exeter, NH), and Jonathan Lattimer (Windsor, CT) all recorded two hits. Joe DiMichele (East Longmeadow, MA) added an RBI double.

On the mound, Brian Riley (Portland, ME) took the loss, allowing four runs (two earned) over three innings while Ethan Smith (Hanson, MA) provided a solid four of relief while Damon Chase (Rye, NH) tossed a 1-2-3 eighth.

For Suffolk, Alex Sorenti-Burns (Sagamore Beach, MA) powered the offense, going 3-for-3 with two home runs and three RBI. Sam Armbruster (Beverly, MA) and Max Martin (Walpole, MA) each drove in a run, while Chris Cimino (Scarborough, ME) added a hit and a run scored.

Nick Rubin (Montpelier, VT) earned the win in relief, pitching a scoreless fourth inning with two strikeouts. Suffolk's bullpen combined for eight innings of one-run ball, with Jack Raimo (Reading, MA) closing out the ninth.

WPI struck first in the opening inning as Cash singled to right center, driving in Burns and Wiberg for a quick 2-0 lead.

Suffolk responded in the second, taking advantage of a WPI error to score two unearned runs and tie the game. The Rams took the lead in the third when Martin drove in Max Iorio (Hull, MA) on a sacrifice fly, and Armbruster followed with another sac fly to make it 4-2.

In the fifth, Sorenti-Burns extended the lead with a solo home run to left center. He struck again in the sixth with a two-run homer, pushing Suffolk's advantage to 7-2.

WPI attempted a late comeback in the eighth when DiMichele doubled to left center, scoring Cash, but the Engineers couldn't close the gap.

WPI returns home to face Johnson & Wales on Friday at 3:30pm at the New England Baseball Complex. Suffolk continues its road trip with a doubleheader at Roger Williams on Saturday, beginning at noon.