THE BASICS:
 
- Records: MIT (12-19-1, 7-8 NEWMAC); Emerson College (9-21, 2-12 NEWMAC)
 
- Score: MIT 8, Emerson College 5
 
- Location: Lynn, Mass. (Fraser Field)
 
- The Lead: In the first game of a three-game weekend series, the MIT baseball team defeated Emerson College by an 8-5 final on Friday afternoon at Fraser Field.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- MIT immediately jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first as the Engineers posted two hits and took advantage of five Emerson walks for the early edge. Leading the offense in the first was first-year Brian Rapanan (Gurnee, Ill.) as his two-RBI single scored senior Cory O'Shea (Glen Allen, Va.) and junior Jake Sonandres (Torrance, Calif.). Emerson countered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first as Briggs Loveland scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch, as well as a balk that scored Thai Morgan.
 
- The Engineers pushed the lead back to a five-run margin in the second as junior Kyle Sonandres (Torrance, Calif.) doubled to left to lead off the inning before stealing third and scoring on an error by the catcher. With two outs, O'Shea singled to left and brought home sophomore Michael Finch (Brentwood, Tenn.) for the 7-2 lead.
 
- MIT starting pitcher Matt Leonard (San Antonio, Texas) set the Lions down in order in the second, third and fifth innings to go along with pair of runners picked off in the fourth inning. The Engineers added an unearned run in the seventh on an RBI single to shortstop from junior Erik Anderson (Palos Verdes, Calif.) that scored junior Graham Cartwright (La Jolla, Calif.) for the 8-2 margin.
 
- Emerson closed out the scoring in the bottom of the seventh as the Lions scored three runs on one hit and a pair of MIT errors to pull within 8-5. Rapanan took over in relief to start the eighth and threw a pair of hitless innings with one strikeout for his second save of the season.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Leonard went five innings on the mound, allowing just one hit and two runs with three strikeouts to improve to 1-4 on the year. For Emerson, Johnny Maffei lasted just one inning with four hits, six earned runs and five walks as he is now 1-5 overall.
 
- Kyle Sonandres and Rapanan led MIT with two hits apiece, while the MIT pitching staff held the Lions to just two hits in the game.
 
UP NEXT:
 
- MIT wraps up the 2022 NEWMAC regular-season schedule on Saturday, April 30th as the Engineers host Emerson College for a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. Prior to the first game, the Engineers will honor the 2022 Senior Class for their contributions to the program during their MIT careers.
 
STAY CONNECTED:
 
- For the latest on MIT Athletics, follow the Engineers via social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.