Massey Takes Loss in See Saw Affair

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Sophomore second baseman Mike Rubino (Northford, CT) had four hits and sophomore left-fielder Matt Anthonis (Guilford, CT) knocked in four runs to lead the Western New England baseball team to a 12-8 victory over Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Thursday afternoon (Apr. 7) at Trelease Park.

The teams combined for 27 hits and 25 runners left on base in a wild non-conference battle.

The Golden Bears (19-6) totaled 15 hits as Anthonis just missed a cycle with a single, double, and homer. Senior designated hitter Ryan Dudzinski (Bristol, CT) and sophomore right-fielder Casey Dadio (Branford, CT) each collected two hits.

Western New England employed five pitchers to gain its fourth consecutive victory with sophomore lefty Jeff Richardson (Simsbury, CT) gaining the win in relief. He allowed only one hit with two walks and two strikeouts to improve to 2-1.

The Trailblazers (5-11) took a 4-0 lead in the first on two-run singles by senior right-fielder Osiris Mendez and senior second baseman Mike Meaney knocking out junior starter Mark DiTommaso (Hebron, CT) in the process.

The Golden Bears got two back in the bottom of the inning on a RBI double by senior third baseman Tony Trubia (Tolland, CT) and sacrifice fly by senior catcher Jason Leclerc (Chicopee, MA).

Western New England scored four times in the second when Anthonis drilled a three-run blast deep over the left field fence for his first collegiate homer and a sacrifice fly by Dudzinski.

MCLA tied the game in the third on back-to-back two-out singles by freshman designated hitter Sean Coyle and sophomore center-fielder Joe Duncan.

The Golden Bears answered with two runs in their half of the inning to go ahead for good at 8-6 when Rubino tripled in a run and Rubino hot a sacrifice fly.

The visitors got within 8-7 on a RBI single by senior first baseman Bobby Beauchesne in the seventh.

Western New England again came back with three runs in the bottom of the inning to go ahead 11-7 on a clutch two-run double by sophomore pinch-hitter Tim Clark (West Springfield, MA) and single by Rubino.

Junior first baseman Mike Taylor (Andover, MA) gave the hosts a five-run cushion with a RBI single in the eighth.

Beauchesne finished with three hits after knocking in the Trailblazers final run in the ninth with a double. Duncan, Mendez, and senior third baseman Paul Procopio each collected two. Junior Rick Massey took the loss.