BABSON PARK, Mass. - The Wheaton College baseball team was looking to complete a three-game series sweep against Babson College on Sunday afternoon, but the Beavers, who scored just two runs in 16 innings against the Lyons, won 18-4 in a critical New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) game at Govoni Field.
Receiving national votes in the latest D3baseball.com poll, Wheaton had its five-game winning streak come to an end while falling to 13-6 overall and 7-5 in the NEWMAC. The Beavers improved to 16-6 and 8-4. Babson currently shares first place with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The Lyons pounded out 10 hits compared to the hosts' 14, but Wheaton pitchers issued 10 walks, including three straight that ended up leading to a grand slam and a 7-0 Beaver lead in the second inning. Trailing 12-3 after five, the Lyons gave way to four runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh before completing the scoring with a run of their own in the ninth.
Sophomore Eric Jensen (Gorham, N.H./Gorham) went 2-for-3 with two RBI to lead the visitors, while junior Hal Landers (Salem, N.H./Salem) also had two hits and scored once. Senior Tad Skelley (Wolfeboro, N.H./Holderness School) drew a pair of walks, and six different Lyons recorded one base knock each.
Taking the loss, sophomore righty Justin Dickinson (Stratford, Conn./Bunnell) surrendered nine earned runs while striking out four and walking five in 2.2 innings. Three Wheaton relievers combined to give up nine earned runs with one strikeout and five walks.
Babson junior Billy Miller (Sagamore Beach, Mass./Boston College), sophomore Chris Kucher (Westwood, Mass./Xaverian Brothers) and freshman Chris Warren (Medfield, Mass./Medfield) combined to drive in 12 runs while scoring seven. Sophomore righty Kyle Lyon (Flemington, N.J./Delaware Valley Regional) picked up the win, fanning four batters and walking three while yielding three earned runs in seven innings.
The Lyons next host conference opponent Springfield College on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
