'Canes Prevail in Slugfest with Wahconah
CHESHIRE, Mass. -- Led by a quick start that featured a six-run second inning, the Hoosac Valley baseball team jumped out to an early lead and was able to hold off Wahconah late in an 8-6 win at home on Tuesday.Senior Nick Bourdon led a potent Hurricanes' attack at the plate, going 2 for 4 with four RBI and one run scored. Bourdon's three-run, bases-clearing double in the second inning capped a six-run frame for Hoosac, which improved to 5-3 on the year with the win.
Bob Rivard's club sandwiched a pair of runs each in the first and third innings around the six-run second to open a commanding 8-1 lead out of the gate. Junior starter Mike Koperniak battled the Warriors bats well through the first five innings, but he started to tire in the sixth frame, allowing Wahconah to score one run in the fifth and four more in the sixth. He still did enough to get his fourth win of the season, allowing four earned runs with four strikeouts and four walks on the day.
"We played well when we had to," Rivard said. "Mike had five good innings but threw a lot of pitches, and he got tired in the sixth. Nick Burzimati came in and finished the game well for us. It was a good win over a team that beat us earlier in the year."
Burzimati struck out one batter and recorded the last five outs of the game to earn the save. Junior Corey Meczywor also had a good day with the bat, going 3 for 4 with a run batted in. Aaron Solari, Zach Larabee and Slayter Aubin each contributed two hits apiece for the Hurricanes, who next play at Pittsfield at 4:15 p.m. on Thursday.