WALTHAM, Mass. - Wentworth Institute of Technology junior rightfielder Doug Papuga (Branford, Conn./Branford) had a pair of solo home runs and junior righty Chris Carbone (Goshen, Conn./Wamogo Reg.) held host Brandeis to one run on three hits through the first seven innings today as the Leopards defeated the Judges, 6-3. Wentworth improved to 11-4 with the win, while Brandeis fell to 7-9 on the campaign.
The Leopards jumped out to a 3-0 lead through four innings thanks to a pair of solo round trippers. Papuga led off the second with his second blast of the season, while Carbone's twin brother Anthony, the second-baseman, followed two batters later with his second of the year. Both homers were hit to right field and came against Brandeis senior righty James Collins (So. Boston, Mass./BB&N). Papuga went yard again in the fourth against sophomore lefty Justin Duncombe (Canyon Country, Calif./Canyon), this time to right field.
Brandeis finally got to Chris Carbone in the fifth. Junior 2B John O'Brion (Portland, Maine/Portland) doubled to right-center with one out and scored on a single to center by rookie SS Sean O'Hare (Southampton, Mass./Hampshire Reg.). The Leopards answered in the top of the sixth. Senior CF Mike Roberts (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford) reached on an error, stole second and third, and scored on a single by sophomore DH Jake McManus (Hopkinton, N.H./Hopkinton). The Leopards added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth before the Judges knocked Carbone out of the game.
Junior RF James Likis (Cambridge, Mass./Cambridge Rindge & Latin) singled on a hard shot to third base, and O'Hare punched one through the right side to put runners on first and second with none out. After Likis was forced at third on a ball hit by sophomore CF Tony Deshler (Pepperell, Mass./Lawrence Acad.), pinch-hitter Eric Rosenberg (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) singled to cut the lead to 6-2. Rookie 3B Jon Chu (Hollis Hills, N.Y.) then beat out a potential double play ball back to the mound, plating Deshler and getting the Judges within 6-3. Carbone got the final out on a fielder's choice groundout, and Wentworth senior Matt Chymbor (Meriden, Conn./Platt) retired the Judges in the ninth for his first save of 2009.
Papuga led the Leopards by going 3-5 with his two solo home runs. McManus, sophomore 3B Mike Diodato (Asbury, N.J./Warren Hill Reg.) and senior LF Nick Cunningham (Pembroke, Mass./Williston-Northampton) also had two hits for the visitors. Carbone improved to 3-0 on the season with eight innings of six-hit ball, allowing three earned runs. He struck out five and walked just one. Chymbor retired the side in order to earn the save.
Brandeis had one multiple hitter in O'Hare, who was 2-3 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. O'Brion's double, his fourth of the season, was the Judges' only extra-base hit. Collins suffered the loss in 3.1 innings, allowing two runs and three hits while striking out four without walking any. He falls to 1-3 on the season.
Brandeis and Wentworth will both be back at Stein Diamond tomorrow, as the Judges host Salve Regina at 3:30 p.m. and the Leopards face Lasell College at 7:30 p.m.