FORT PIERCE, Fla. - After nearly completing a rally to begin the season yesterday, the Western Connecticut State University baseball team notched its first win of the season, downing the University of Northwestern (MN) on Monday at Lawnwood Field. Sophomore starting pitcher Zachary Barry (Fairfield, Conn.) threw six innings of solid work, surrendering just four hits while striking out five to earn the victory for the Wolves.

Rookie Max Grewal (Long Beach, N.Y.) added two innings of stellar relief from the mound, fanning four Northwestern batters, while sophomore Kenneth Firlings (Middletown, R.I.) cemented the win. Seniors Stanley Roman (Danbury, Conn.) and Jesse Dunn (Bedford, N.Y.) finished with two hits and one RBI apiece to lead WestConn offensively. 

The Wolves jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first frame and would not look back. Roman ripped a double, scoring junior Nicholas Moeller (Mahopac, N.Y), who reached on a single earlier in the inning. Moments later, Stanley touched the plate courtesy of a Northwestern fielding error. 

The winners extended the advantage to 3-0 in the second when Dunn punched an RBI single. They added another pair of runs in the third when Moeller scored on another Northwestern miscue after leading off the stanza with a walk. Shortly thereafter, Roman stole home, widening the gap to 5-0. Northwestern broke up the shutout when they drove in a run-scoring single in the ninth, rounding the count out at 5-1.

With the win, WestConn improved to 1-1 overall while Northwestern dropped to 3-6. The Wolves continue their Spring Trip with a doubleheader against Marywood University on Tuesday.