Johnson & Wales Comes from Behind to Defeat Baseball 5-3
East Providence, R.I. - The Johnson & Wales University baseball team defeated Framingham State 5-3 this afternoon in a non-conference contest at Pierce Field.
Framingham State took the early lead with an RBI single by sophomore Ivan Colon (Waltham, Mass.) and a run scoring groundout by senior Chris Blydell (Lynn, Mass.) to take a 2-0 advantage in the top of the third.
Johnson & Wales got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when sophomore Tyler Pacheco (East Hampstead, N.H.) led off the frame with a single and scored on an RBI groundout by senior Matt Newsome (Providence, R.I.) to make the score 2-1.
In the bottom of the sixth sophomore Alex Pezzuto (Hastings, N.Y.) led off with a double and scored on an RBI single by junior Brian Olofson (Highlands, N.J.) to knot the game at 2-2.
Framingham State regained the lead in the top of the seventh when Colon was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring sophomore Tony Iafolla (Medfield, Mass.) to give the Rams the 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, junior James Reyes (Providence, R.I.) was hit by a pitch and scored when Pacheco drew a bases loaded walk, tying the game 3-3. The Wildcats took a 4-3 lead on a bases loaded walk by freshman Rob Bocchetti (East Meadow, N.Y.). Senior Joe Copolla (Ridgewood, N.J.) singled to left, scoring senior Sean Radu (Woodbridge, N.J.) to put JWU up 5-3.
Framingham State threatened in the bottom of the ninth with two on and one out, but could not capitalize as JWU held on for the 5-3 victory.
Senior Chris DePalma (Taunton, Mass.) picked up the win in relief for JWU, pitching two scoreless innings. Pezzuto went 3-for-4 with a run scored while Bocchetti added two hits in the win for the Wildcats.
Freshman Zach Kirby picked up the loss tossing 2.1 innings of relief allowing three earned runs on two hits with a pair of walks.
With the victory JWU improves to 7-7 while Framingham State falls to 5-7 on the season. The Wildcats will return to action on Sunday, March 25th when they host Babson in a non-conference contest at Pierce Field, starting at 1:00 p.m.