DANBURY, Conn. - Senior right-handed starting pitchers Connor Gannon (New Milford, Conn.) and Pauly DiPaterio (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) went out, on Senior Day, and hurled heroic gems for the Western Connecticut State University baseball team on Friday.  However, Castleton University prevailed on both end of a crucial Little East Conference doubleheader, 3-0 and 5-3, to eliminated the Wolves from the upcoming LEC post-season tournament.

In the opener, Gannon went the distance in the opener, allowed three runs on eight hits, struck out 10 and walked just one Spartans' player.  He falls to 2-6 on the season, but left it all on the hill at Westside Field on Friday.

DiPaterio did not survive the entire nine innings, but in five and two-thirds, he allowed three runs on six hits.  Over the first three innings, every registered out, from the veteran came by a strike out.  He finished with nine on the night and walked three after emptying an arsenal of pitches.

WestConn falls to 9-28 overall and 3-12 in the highly-competitive LEC while the Spartans stay alive for one of the six playoff spots allotted for the double-elimination tournament that begins on May 12.  They improve to 16-18 overall and 6-8 in the conference.

In the afternoon tilt, junior Jackson Cardozo went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs batted in while Reece deCastro went 2-for-4 with a double and scored two runs to lead the winners.

Evan Keegan added the third RBI with a single in the top of the third inning for CU.

Senior Joe Brunelli (Roxbury, Conn.) was the only WestConn player with multiple hits after going 2-for-3 in the opener.

Riley Orr collected the win from the bump after going six innings, allowing four hits, striking out five and walking one.  He is now 4-3.  

Brayden Howrigan earned his first of two saves on the day and now has six for the season.  He struck out one and allowed one hit after Joseph Voli registered the hold.

In the nightcap, Aubrey Ramey improved to 2-3 after allowing two runs on six hits in five innings of work.  He struck out two and walked one.

Stephen Coffey was solid before handing the ball over to Howrigan for the final out of the game.  In three and two-third innings, Coffey allowed one run on five hits and struck out two.

The Wolves took a 2-0 in the fourth inning when Joe Gambino (Stamford, Conn.) and Cameron Bogli (Danbury, Conn.) drove in a run with a single and sacrifice fly, respectively.

Castleton scored a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth and seventh innings to take a 5-2 advantage.  Both runs in the seventh frame came without registering a hit as WestConn committed three fielding miscues.

Senior Christopher Ehlers (Ellington, Conn.) led the WestConn offense by going 3-for-5 in his final home game.  Gambino also collected three hits, in four trips to the dish.

WestConn will close out the 2023 campaign at Rhode Island College on Tuesday, May 2.  First pitch against the Anchormen, which currently sit atop the LEC table, is scheduled for 3 pm in Providence.

Between the games, head coach Johnny Susi and his staff celetrated the careers of 14 seniors.  Honored were: Cameron Bogli, Joe Brunelli, Nicholas Bruno, Pauly DiPaterio, Christopher Ehlers, Joe Gambino, Miguel Gonzalez, Nicholas Lepere, Hunter Loomis, Jake Montas, Tyler Olmo, Anthony Ormond, Zachary Royka and Orlando Swift.