Box Score Springfield, Mass. - March 6, 2023 - The Springfield College baseball team was edged by visiting Western New England, 7-3, in the Pride's season opener at Archie Allen Field on Monday afternoon.
WNE improved to 1-0-1 with the victory, while the Pride dipped to 0-1.
Springfield jumped all over the Golden Bears with a pair of runs in the first inning, as Joe Traversa (Pittsfield, Mass.) ripped a leadoff double on the first pitch he saw before Michael Barrett's (Longmeadow, Mass.) base knock drove him in. After Barrett stole second, Cadin Maynard (Waterford, Conn.) drove a single up the middle to plate the Pride's second run of the frame.
The visitors got a run back in the second on a sacrifice fly and would take a 3-2 advantage on a run-scoring triple and another sacrifice fly in the third. Springfield responded in the bottom half of the third as Barrett evened things up with his second run. Following a leadoff single and his second swiped bag of the afternoon, he would later score on a passed ball to make it a 3-3 contest.
Springfield's Colby Welch (Brandon, Fla.) got out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth, but the Pride would strand runners on the corners in the bottom half before WNE would break open the game in the eighth. With two outs and runners on first and third, Springfield elected to intentionally walk the bases loaded. Sean Jamieson responded for the Golden Bears by connecting on an opposite field shot to clear the bases and later crossed home plate on a balk as the visitors lead grew to 7-3.
Blake Roberge (Warwick, R.I.) started the game on the mound and scattered seven hits and three earned runs over four innings of work and Barrett would account for two of the Pride's seven hits.
Springfield will play again on Tuesday afternoon when it hosts Amherst at 3 pm.
For the latest on Springfield College Athletics, follow the Pride on social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Springfield "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
