New London, CT --- Coast Guard used a pair of multi-run innings to pull away from WPI and earn a 7-2 win in NEWMAC baseball action Friday afternoon at Nitchman Field. The Bears improve to 14-9 overall and 4-2 in conference play, while the Engineers fall to 11-14 and 0-6 in the NEWMAC.
 
WPI was led offensively by Andrew Cash (Marlboro, MA), who went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Tommy Burns (Morris Plains, NJ) reached base, scored a run, and had a hit, while Matt Shea (Andover, MA) contributed an RBI and Jonathan Lattimer (Windsor, CT) recorded one of WPI's three total hits.
 
On the mound, D.C. Brown (Plymouth, MA) took the loss despite a solid start, tossing six innings and allowing two runs on six hits while striking out six. Alex Hee (Walpole, MA) and Kaiden Williams (Aurora, IL) combined to pitch the final two innings, with Hee charged for four runs (two earned) in the seventh and Williams giving up just an unearned run in the eighth.
 
Coast Guard was led at the plate by Carson Cho (Haymarket, VA), who went 3-for-4 with a double, three RBI, and two runs scored. Rick Barkley (Bellevue, WA) had a two-run single, and Jack Steel (Medford Lakes, NJ) added an RBI. Vito Giordano (Scarsdale, NY) went the distance for Coast Guard, tossing a complete-game three-hitter to improve to 5-0. He struck out 11 without issuing a walk and allowed just two earned runs.
 
The game remained scoreless through five innings as both starters worked efficiently. Brown allowed just three hits over the first five frames, while Coast Guard's Giordano was dominant on the other side, striking out nine of the first 15 batters he faced.
 
The Bears broke through in the sixth when Luke Percifield (Pinellas Park, FL) singled and Kael Godshalk (Bangor, PA) reached on a fielder's choice. After a base hit by Cho to load the bases, Barkley drove in two with a single to left center to make it 2-0.
 
Coast Guard pulled away in the seventh. Percifield reached on an infield single, followed by a walk and an error to load the bases. Cho cleared them with a double to left, bringing in three runs. He later came around to score on an infield error, stretching the lead to 6-0. In the eighth, Connor Cilento (Point Pleasant, NJ) singled, stole second, advanced on a groundout, and scored on Steel's RBI groundout to make it 7-0.
 
WPI cracked the scoreboard in the ninth. Burns and Jack Zawacki (Pittsford, NY) were each hit by pitches to put two on. Cash then drove in Burns with a double to left field, and Shea's sacrifice fly plated Zawacki to cut the lead to 7-2. However, a groundout ended the Engineers' comeback hopes.
 
The series will continue Sunday at Coast Guard with another nine-inning game at Nitchman Field. First pitch is scheduled for noon.