Springfield, MA --- The WPI baseball team split a NEWMAC doubleheader with Springfield on Saturday afternoon at Archie Allen Field, rallying for an 8-7 victory in the opener before falling 3-1 in game two. The Engineers move to 15-18 (3-10 NEWMAC), while the Pride shift to 21-13 (7-6 NEWMAC).
 
Jack Zawacki (Pittsford, NY) powered the Engineers offensively in the opener, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs to help fuel WPI's eight-run output. On the mound in game two, the bullpen steadied things late, as Robert Runge (Manasquan, NJ) and Mason Walls (Pearland, TX) combined for 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit despite WPI coming up short.
 
Game One
WPI erased an early five-run deficit and used a four-run eighth inning to secure an 8-7 comeback victory in the opener.
 
Zawacki led the Engineers with two hits and two RBI, while Jonathan Lattimer (Windsor, CT) delivered a key two-run single as part of his three-RBI performance. Aaron Johnson (Auburn, NY) added two hits, scored three times, and drove in a run, and Chuck Cappello (Southboro, MA) contributed two RBI.
 
Brian Riley (Portland, ME) earned the win in relief, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit. Jacob Wiberg (Exeter, NH) started and allowed seven runs over 6.1 innings.
 
Springfield was led by Chris Balchius (Norwalk, CT), who went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, while Michael Lepere (Beacon, NY) added two hits and two RBI. Aaron Little (Ludlow, MA) took the loss.
 
The Pride jumped out quickly with five runs over the first two innings, highlighted by an inside-the-park two-run home run from Balchius and a three-run second inning.
 
WPI chipped away with two runs in the third and two more in the fifth, including an RBI double from Zawacki to make it 5-4.
 
After Springfield pushed the lead to 7-4 in the seventh, WPI responded in the eighth. Johnson drove in a run on a fielder's choice before Cappello added a sacrifice fly. Lattimer then delivered a two-run single to tie the game at 7-7 and complete the comeback.
 
Riley closed out the final two innings to secure the win.

Game Two
The Engineers were limited offensively in a 3-1 loss in the nightcap.
 
Zawacki accounted for the lone RBI with a double, while Miles Pratt (Hampton, NH) added a hit and reached base twice. Cappello also recorded a hit and scored the only run.
 
Alex Hee (Walpole, MA) started and allowed three runs over 3.1 innings, earning the loss. Runge came on in relief to toss 2.2 scoreless innings allowing one hit, while Walls added two scoreless innings in relief as part of the strong bullpen effort.
 
Springfield was paced by Tyler Casey (Wallingford, CT) and Michael Lepere, who each collected two hits, while Dan Surette (Braintree, MA) drove in a run. Nate Kelleher-Mochak (Florence, MA) earned the win with eight strong innings.
 
All of Springfield's runs came in the fourth inning, as the Pride strung together a sacrifice fly, an RBI single, and a groundout.
 
The Boynton Hillers broke through in the eighth on Zawacki's RBI double to cut the deficit to 3-1 but could not push another run across.
 
WPI returns to action on Tuesday with a NEWMAC matchup at Coast Guard at 3:30 pm while Springfield travels to Babson for a NEWMAC contest on Tuesday.

Game 1 Box Score
 
Game 2 Box Score