East Providence, R.I. – The Johnson & Wales baseball squad split a double header against Husson in non-conference action at Pierce Field on Saturday afternoon. Husson notched a 17-6 win in the opener before Johnson & Wales replied with a 10-9 come-from-behind win in the nightcap.

Senior Jonathan Melendez (Providence, R.I.) provided the heroics for Johnson & Wales in the nightcap, belting a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth to give the Wildcats lead and then recording the save with a pair of strikeouts in the top of the ninth to secure the victory for JWU. Husson had jumped out to an early 4-0 advantage with a four run first, including a two run single by sophomore Jake Arthers (Belfast, Maine.). JWU chipped away in the bottom of the first when senior Waldis Garcia (Lowell, Mass.) scored on a wild pitch. Husson had the 7-2 advantage after top of the sixth, but the Wildcats would respond with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two run double by junior Bryan Sayers (Chelmsford, Mass.), cutting the lead to 7-4. After the Hawks tallied a run in the top of the seventh to make the score 8-4, JWU trimmed the advantage to just one run with a three run seventh, including an RBI single by freshman Tyler Newell (Westerly, R.I.) to make the score 8-7. The Wildcats then went ahead 10-8 on Melendez's two run shot and a run from junior Teddy Katz (Pittsburgh, Pa.) who reached on a walk and later scored on a Husson miscue. In the top of the ninth, Husson's Arthers drew a bases loaded walk to cut the lead to 10-9, but it wouldn't be enough as Melendez got junior Tom Crews (Bangor, Maine) to strikeout to end the game. Arthers was 2-for-5 with a run and two RBI for Husson while junior Chris Maguire (Orland, Maine) went 1-for-2 with two runs and an RBI in the setback for the Hawks. Melendez went 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBI while Katz went 2-for-3 with three runs in the win for the Wildcats.

In the opener, JWU jumped out to the early 3-0 lead after RBI singles by sophomore Nick Alosco (Mahopac, N.Y.) and Melendez. Husson responded, however with nine unearned runs in the top of the second, including a three run shot by Crews that put Husson up 9-3. The visiting Hawks added three more in the eights and four in the ninth en route to the 17-6 victory. Crews was 4-for-6 with two runs and seven RBI in the win for Husson while freshman Shawn Smith (Winterport, Maine) was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI in the win for the Hawks. Junior Matt Yaeger (Glendale, Ariz.) went 4-for-5 for JWU while Alosco and Melendez each tallied two hits in the loss for the Wildcats. Sophomore Nate Adams (Frankfort, Maine) picked up the win on the mound for Husson, allowing four runs on 13 hits with three strikeouts in seven innings. Sophomore Marc Sommerhalter (Emerson, N.J.) suffered the setback for JWU, allowing one earned run on nine hits in five innings of work.

JWU is now 1-12 for the season while Husson is 6-7 for the year. The Wildcats will return to action on Sunday, March 21st when they host Daniel Webster in a non-conference contest at 1:00 p.m.