SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Senior Alex Sammons (Irvine, CA) allowed only three runs in seven innings as third-seeded Curry upset top-seeded Western New England 4-3 in a second round game of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Baseball Championship Saturday (May 5) at Trelease park.

The Colonels and Golden Bears each have a 1-1 record in the double elimination tournament.

Curry will meet fifth-seeded Gordon in an elimination game at Springfield College while WNE will host second-seeded Endicott. Both games start at 11:00 a.m. with a third contest taking place at approximately 3:30 p.m. at Western New England.

Sammons allowed 10 hits with a walk and strikeout in evening his record at 3-3. Freshman Thomas Fitzpatrick (South Boston, MA) pitched the last two innings giving up only one hit in earning his first collegiate save.

Western New England (30-11) took a 1-0 lead in the first when sophomore centerfielder Jeff Schult (Wappingers Falls, NY) had a lead-off double and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior third baseman Mike Rubino (Northford, CT).

Curry (17-23) tied the contest in the second on a double by senior second baseman David Stevens (Deerfield Beach, FL) and RBI single by freshman designated hitter Matt Warren (Wilbraham, MA).

The Colonels extended their lead to 4-1 by scoring three times in the third with the last two runs coming home on a suicide squeeze play.

With one out and runners on first and second, junior catcher Matt Rodriguez (Quincy, MA) knocked in a run with a single through the left side and advanced to second on the throw home. Senior first baseman Matt Drew (Waltham, MA) then laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to the pitcher that scored both senior shortstop Carlos Cornejo (Lake Forest, CA) and the hustling Rodriquez from second.

The Golden Bears pulled within 4-3 after getting two runs in the eighth when freshman first baseman Stephen Buckley (Monroe, CT) walked with the bases loaded and a double play ball.

Western New England had a chance to tie the game in the ninth when junior second baseman Tim Clark (West Springfield, MA) led-off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice. Fitzpatrick got the final two outs to preserve the win.

Curry finished with 12 hits with Stevens (2 singles, double) and Warren (3 singles) each getting on base three times. Drew and Rodriguez both contributed a pair of hits.

Western New England banged out 11 hits, but stranded 13 runners on base. Senior designated hitter Mike Taylor (Andover, MA) had a three-hit outing while Schult, Rubino, Clark, and junior left fielder Taylor Perun (Plainville, CT) getting two hits apiece.

Junior Mike Lospinuso (West Islip, NY) pitched five-and-a-third innings allowing 10 hits with two walks and two strikeouts. (Recap courtesy of WNE Sports Information)