Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 (West Harrison, NY) - The Westchester Community College Baseball team swept a doubleheader from the Monroe College (Mustangs) JV team on Wednesday, February 28. The Vikings squeaked past Monroe 9-7 to open play, and then scored early and often during a 13-3 five-inning rout during game two. The games were played at Silver Lake Park in West Harrison, New York.

With the wins, WCC improved to 2-2 for the 2018 season.

The opener saw both teams go back and forth until the bottom of the fifth inning, when sophomore Paul Franzese (Somers, NY/Somers HS) belted a two-run home run to turn a 5-4 deficit into a 6-5 lead. Two batters later, Christian Lovecchio (North White Plains, NY/Valhalla HS) belted an RBI double to increase the lead to two. The Vikings then scored two more runs during the bottom of the sixth inning, and never looked back.

Franzese went 2 for 4 with four RBI, while freshman James Houlahan (Yorktown Heights, NY/Lakeland HS) went 2 for 2 with a double and three runs scored. Sergio Osorio (North White Plains, NY/Valhalla HS) went 1 for 2 with two RBI's and a walk.

On the mound, Michael Matalavage (Croton, NY/Croton-Harmon HS) earned his first career win, striking out four over 3 2/3 innings, while sophomore Jose Delacruz (New York, NY/George Washington HS) notched his first save of 2018.

The nightcap saw a dominant effort at the plate and on the mound for Westchester as sophomore Nick Cona (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas HS) pitched a complete game without allowing an earned run, striking out five, while walking only one batter. 

WCC fell behind 1-0 heading into the bottom of the first inning, before exploding for three runs in the bottom half of the frame, two more during the bottom of the second inning, and five more during the bottom of the third to break the game wide open, ending things early.

Houlahan continued his outstanding afternoon, going 2 for 3 with three runs scored, his day including a double and a triple. Franzese shined once again, going 2 for 2 with two RBI's and two runs scored. Sophomore Bobby Wootten (Ardsley, NY/Ardsley HS) enjoyed a career day, going 4 for 4 with two RBI's and two runs scored.

Westchester CC is scheduled to return to action on Friday, March 2 for a doubleheader with Queensborough Community College, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Silver Lake Park. With poor weather forecasted for the Westchester County area, please check our website and social media for notifications regarding the status of the doubleheader.