Baseball Holds Off WPI, 8-6

NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. – Suffolk baseball emerged in the win column for the first time in 2026 as it took down WPI, 8-6, Thursday afternoon at the New England Baseball Complex.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 8 | WPI 6
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-8) | WPI (8-2)  

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Suffolk grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Colin Flynn and Sam Armbruster coupled back-to-back base hits before a wild pitch advanced the runners to third and second, respectively. Sebastian Lampert collected an RBI on an unassisted ground out to first that brought in Flynn to give the visitors a one-run edge. 
• The Rams made things lopsided in their favor in the top of the fourth with six runs thanks to the combination of three walks, two hits, two hit by pitches and a pair of Engineer errors. Cole Hilliard and Luke Thornton both wore a pitch to get the inning underway before Mike Mullaney singled to fill the bases. Stephen Nardelli and Vasili Scangas worked bases loaded walks to bring the first two runs of the frame in. From there, Jack Mihalchik picked an RBI with a single to left and Flynn walked to plate the fourth run of the inning, which caused WPI to make a change on the hill as Robert Runge took over for Luke Blandino. The scoring continued, however, as a fielder's choice when Armbruster put the ball into play allowed Scangas to score and a throwing error by Runge on a failed pick-off attempt let Flynn cross home to make it 7-0 Suffolk. 
• The Engineers erased the shutout in the bottom of the fifth. A ground rule double by Liam Keblin plated Jacob Wiberg and Joe DiMichele, who singled and walked, respectively, to chip the Rams advantage to 7-2. 
• Suffolk made up one run in the top of the sixth. With two outs and Flynn on second, an error by WPI's shortstop Chuck Cappello allowed Flynn to score to extend the margin to six, 8-2. 
• The score stayed there until the bottom of the eighth when WPI cut the margin to four behind a one-run double from Zachary Roehtlein and a productive ground out to short by Greyson Baldizar. 
• After the Rams went down in order in the top of the ninth, Jack Raimo came in to close for the blue-and-gold. WPI had other things in mind though and quickly put all the ducks in the pond on a pair of walks sandwiched around a DiMichele double. Matt Shea singled to left field to bring in two runs, which brought the winning run to the plate in Camden Williems. Thankfully, Armbruster gloved Williems' hard hit ball at short and turned a double play, but Roethlein kept the host's hope alive as he singled to left to keep the tying run on the bases. Suffolk's defense stepped up though as Thornton and Hilliard combined for a routine ground out to second for the final out of the game to preserve the victory for the Rams. 

PITCHERS PICTURE

• Anthony Ferreira earned the decision as the started allowed four runs on six hits and three walks with six striekouts through 7.0 innings. 
• John McDevitt shoved 1.0 inning of scoreless relief and sat down one batter. 
• Raimo let up two runs on three hits and two walks in 1.0 frame out of the pen. 
• Blandino took the loss as he let up seven runs, six earned, on four hits and three walks with three strikeouts in 3.0 innings. 
• Runge compiled a one-unearned run, three-hit, one-strikeout stat line through 4.0 frames. 
• Lennon Richman pieced together 2.0 innings of scoreless relief with one hit allowed and two Ks to his credit.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Mihalchik provided two hits, including one double, one RBI and one stolen base. 
• Flynn scored three runs to go along with one hit, one RBI and one stolen base.
• Armbruster added two hits, two stolen bases and one RBI. 
• Hilliard, Thornton and Mullaney produced one hit and one run apiece. Mullaney also pitched in one sac. 
• Stephen Nardelli and Scangas brought in one run, scored one run and walked once each. 
• Lampert recorded one RBI. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk defeated WPI for the third straight meeting to move to even the all-time series at 15-15. 
• The Rams are 3-1 against WPI under Anthony Del Prete's guidance. 
• Ferreira had a career-high six strikeouts. 
• Mihalchik matched a personal-best two hits. 
• Mihalchik (2 games, 4 hits), Flynn (2 games, 4 hits), Hilliard (3 games, 5 hits) and Thornton (6 games, 7 hits) all extended their hit streaks. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk remains on the road Saturday, March 21 when it visits Tufts for a twinbill. Game one has a 12:00 p.m. first pitch.