WORCESTER, Mass. – Clark University baseball (15-9, 2-3 NEWMAC) continued conference play with a home doubleheader against Springfield (16-7, 4-1 NEWMAC) on Saturday afternoon. It was a back-and-forth start in game one, but a four-run sixth inning pulled the Pride in front as they secured a 10-6 win. After a similarly close start to game two, the Cougars scored five unanswered runs to pull away, winning 11-6.

How it Happened (Game One)

• The strong wind to left field showed its power early, with the leadoff hitter for the Pride hitting a ball that carried to the wall, nearly bouncing over for a ground-rule double. However, it stayed in play, allowing the runner to circle the bases for an inside-the-park home run and the game's opening run.

• Sophomore Bennett Hewett started the game exactly how he started his previous one, crushing a ball that sailed over the left-center fence for a leadoff solo home run. Clark then took their first lead with senior Brayden Hollinrake and sophomore Myles Fournier drawing bases-loaded walks to make it 3-1.

• Another run was added by the Pride in the second, with an error putting a runner on base, who would score unearned off a two-out triple later in the inning to make it a one-run game.

• Springfield retook the lead in the third, with two singles putting runners on base, both of whom came home on a double to right field to give the Pride a 4-3 lead after three.

• The lead flipped again in the fourth, with senior Dom Mariani crushing a two-run homer over the left field wall to send himself and senior Alfonso Jalil home for a 5-4 Cougar lead.

• Following a second scoreless inning of work on the mound by junior Chas Caron, it was Fournier's turn to homer, launching a no-doubt solo shot to make it 6-4 after five.

• Springfield made it three straight innings with a home run, hitting a two-run shot to tie the game at six. Later in the inning, they added another two-run homer to take an 8-6 lead after six innings.

• The Pride added to their lead in the seventh, loading the bases twice and scoring two runs off sacrifice flies to take a 10-6 lead.

• Springfield held on from there, allowing just two baserunners over the final two innings to secure the 10-6 win in game one

How it Happened (Game Two) 

• The Cougars jumped out to an early lead as Mariani homered for his second time in the doubleheader, scoring himself and Hewett for the first two runs. Another run was added as sophomore Cole Camara ripped a triple to right-center, then scored on an RBI single from Hollinrake to make it 3-0 after the first.

• Springfield responded with a solo shot in the top of the second, but it was answered in the bottom half as Hewett launched a ball over the wall in left-center, his second homer of the doubleheader, making it 4-1 entering the third.

• Camara continued his strong game with a leadoff double in the third before advancing to third on a grounder from Hollinrake and scoring on a sacrifice fly from Fournier to make it 5-1.

• Springfield cut into the deficit in the fourth, getting runners on via a single and a walk before scoring both on a two-RBI double. They added another run later in the inning as an error in left field allowed a runner to score, making it a one-run game.

• Clark also took advantage of an error in the inning, with an errant throw allowing junior Michael Salzillo to score and extend the lead to 6-4.

• The Pride continued to fight, using a sacrifice fly to score another run and cut the deficit to one again.

• After a scoreless top of the sixth from senior Matthew Donahue, Clark added another run in the bottom of the inning. Hewett doubled to start the frame and scored a batter later on a single by Mariani to make it 7-5.

• Two more runs were added in the seventh, with a walk by Camara and singles from Hollinrake and Fournier loading the bases with no outs. Camara scored on a groundout, before Hewett was hit by a pitch to bring home Fournier and make it 9-5.

• Donahue continued to mow down hitters, pitching his third straight scoreless inning in the top of the eighth. Two more runs were added in the bottom half, with Camara stealing second and forcing an errant throw that allowed sophomore pinch runner Brad Andreola to score from third. Camara later scored on a sacrifice fly to make it 11-5 entering the final inning.

• Springfield added a run on a home run in the ninth, but that would be the final run as Clark secured the 11-6 win.

Inside the Box Scores (Games 1 & 2) 

• Hewett finished with five hits, five RBI, and four runs across the two games. He hit two home runs and has now homered in each of his last three games.

• Mariani also had five hits and five RBI, scoring three runs in the doubleheader. He hit two home runs, moving him to second on the team with eight this season and into second in program history for a single season.

• Camara recorded five hits total, three for extra bases, and scored four times in game two.

• Fournier finished with four RBI, two in each game, and hit his first career home run in game one.

• Donahue pitched three scoreless innings in game two, striking out four.

What's Next 

The Scarlet and White travel to MIT for a single game on Tuesday at 6:00 PM.