03/17/2009
Kopec Leads Baseball Past Cadets, 6-5

WORCESTER, MASS. 3/17/09 - Sophomore Kevin Kopec (Katonah, N.Y.) hit a single, a triple and a homerun and drove in three runs to lead Clark University to a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over Norwich University in non-conference baseball action on Tuesday afternoon at Granger Field.

Playing in their home opener, the Cougars improved to 5-8 overall. Norwich remains winless with an 0-8 mark.

Kopec cracked a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence to record his first of the homer of the season and tie the score, 2-2, in the bottom of the first. After Steve DeMartino (East Haven, Conn.) reached on a fielders choice and stole second, senior Matt Tillo (Osterville, Mass.) drove him home with a knock down the left line to make it 3-2.

The Cougars added a run in the third for a 4-2 margin, before Norwich had a three-run fourth to regain the lead (5-4). Freshman Joe Sleeman (Rochester, N.Y.) and sophomore Travis Dyke (Lewiston, Maine) had RBI hits in the frame.

Clark made its final comeback in the fourth inning, as Kopec delivered a run-producing triple and later scored on a wild pitch for the game-winning run.

Junior Phil DiMarco (Bellingham, Mass.) and freshman Jeremy Gerber (Amherst, Mass.) collected two hits apiece for Clark.

Junior Rob Knox (Conway, N.H.), freshmen Aron Sweder (Northbridge, Mass.) and Sean Kennedy (Madison, N.J.) and Dyke accounted for all of the Cadet hits in the game.

Junior Jon Merritt (East Bridgewater, Mass.) pitched 3.0 innings of hitless relief to pick up his second win of the season, while senior Dave Gagnon (Harwich, Mass.) earned the save with 2.0 innings of no-hit ball. Clark starter Nick Winchell (2-1) (Scituate, R.I.) went 4.0 innings with five strikeouts and three walks.

Sophomore Emilio Martinez (Brunswick, Maine) was the hard luck loser for Norwich, allowing three runs in 2.0 innings on the mound.

Clark will host Wentworth on Thursday (3 p.m.). Norwich will play at Anna Maria College that same day at 3:30 p.m.