NORTHBORO, Mass.—WPI overcame a five-run deficit to beat Gordon 9-7 in non-conference baseball action at the New England Baseball Complex. The Fighting Scots scored seven runs between the first two innings to take control early, but the Engineers put crooked numbers on the board in every odd-numbered inning to send the Scots to their fourth straight loss.
 
Playing in the cold of winter for the first time this season, Gordon showed no ill signs of transitioning back from Florida. The Fighting Scots were able to hit WPI's top pitcher Mike Vaitkunas (Auburn, Mass.) and chase him from the game after just an inning of work. Gordon put two on the board as Addison Tarr (Oxnard, Calif.) singled to lead off the game before getting hit home on a triple for Dean Demers (Sandy Hook, Conn.), his second of the year. Demers scored just two batters later on a single to shallow left by Christian Hodge (Waltham, Mass.) to make it 2-0. Gordon loaded the bases with one out, but an unconventional double play to third ended the threat effectively.
 
WPI answered right back to tie the game in the bottom half of the first. Nick Comei (Haverhill, Mass.) and Steven Gallagher (Coventry, R.I.) each doubled in the opening frame and the duo continued to be thorns in the side for Gordon pitching for the remainder of the contest.
 
The Fighting Scots went off for five in the top of the second. Two runs scored on a single by freshman Morgan Hyde (Thomson, GA). Demers and Hodge also singled in a run. Sophomore Daniel Quint (Wells, ME) allowed Demers to score courtesy of a fielder's choice.
 
The Engineers then went on a 7-0 run between the third and seventh innings to flip the script on the game.
 
WPI rookie Keith Scales (Upper Marlboro, Md.) was a major reason for the Engineer resurgence. Coming in after an uncharacteristic outing for Vaitkunas, who allowed just two runs in 16 innings coming into the day, Scales pitched seven innings of shutout ball. The first-year allowed just four hits in the processs, while striking out five to earn his first collegiate win.
 
Senior Mike Duclos (Greenfield, Mass.) struck out the side in the ninth to earn the save. Comei (2B, HR, RBI, 3 runs) and Gallagher (2 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 4 runs) each batted 3-for-4 while Capuano (2B, sac fly) drove in three runs. Lacroix and junior Matt Howard (Worcester, Mass.) each stole a base as Gallagher, sophomore Austin Lindner (W. Windsor, N.J.) and senior Vaitkunas turned the double play.
 
Hodge went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI and a walk. Demers (3-for-5, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 runs) also had a trio of hits. Hyde batted 2-for-4 with a sacrifice bunt, a pair of RBI and a run as junior Tarr went 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Freshman Garrett Poole (Rindge, NH) was saddled with the decision (0-2) as the pitching staff combined for seven strikeouts. Sophomores Derek Hudson (Hudson, N.H.), Noah Henkell (San Diego, Calif.) and Brian Hodges (Conesus, N.Y.) comprised the remainder of the rotation.
 
The Engineers host Nichols 3:30pm tomorrow at the NEBC while the Fighting Scots head to Bridgewater State Wednesday for a 3:30pm first pitch.