Silvestro knocks in four runs, Bruemmel strikes out six over six-plus innings

AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Junior third baseman Justin Silvestro (Waltham, Mass./BC High) went 3-for-5 with four RBI and sophomore left-hander Michael Bruemmel (Bridgewater, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham) tossed six strong innings to aid the Wheaton College baseball team to an 8-4 victory over Bowdoin in non-conference action at the Lake Myrtle Sports Park.

Bruemmel picked up his first victory of the season on the bump – in as many starts – scattering five hits over 6 1/3 innings alongside one run (unearned), two walks and six strikeouts. Senior Mike Bisceglia (New Boston, N.H./Goffstown) spelled three other relievers to claim his second save of the season on 1 2/3 innings, three hits, one run (unearned), no free passes and four punchouts. In both of his saves this season, Bisceglia has pitched more than one inning while also not allowing four inherited runners to score.

Bowdoin first-year starter Max Vogel-Freedman (West Hartford, Conn./Conrad) took the loss on 1 1/3 innings pitched, five hits, six runs (five earned), one walk and a strikeout. Classmate Connor Rooney (Southborough, Mass./Rivers School) was solid in relief tossing 5 2/3 shutout innings, while yielding five hits and one walk to go with three strikeouts.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the first after giving up a run on a fielding error in the previous frame, Wheaton responded with three runs highlighted by a two-run single through the left side by senior second baseman Justin Peluso (North Reading, Mass./Saint John's Prep).

Classmate Tyler Contillo (Uncasville, Conn./Montville) knocked in the first run for the Lyons earlier in the inning with a single to right center that scored sophomore Joshua LaJoie (Somers, Conn./Avon Old Farms) from second base. LaJoie worked a one-out walk before senior first baseman Apolinar De La Cruz (Providence, R.I./Classical) setup the first scoring chance of the afternoon for the Lyons with a hard-hit ground ball up the middle.

Wheaton tacked on three more runs in the second as Silvestro roped a two-run double down the right field line to drive in sophomore catcher Joseph Santigate (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by the Sea) and LaJoie from first and second, respectively.

Santigate led off the frame with a single to center and advanced to second base on a perfectly executed 3-4 sacrifice bunt by senior Zach Bombard (Belchertown, Mass./Cathedral). LaJoie was then hit by a pitch in the next plate appearance and Silvestro followed with first of two doubles on the day.

The Polar Bears cut their deficit to 6-3 in the top of the eighth on a two-run blast by senior Tom Wells (Weston, Mass./Weston) and also threatened for more runs later in the frame with the tying run at the plate, but Bisceglia squandered a first and second, one-out situation with a pair of strikeouts.

Silvestro added another two-run double in the bottom half, this time going to the opposite field (left field line) to bring home LaJoie and Bombard. Lajoie finished the day going 1-for-2 with three runs scored and two walks from the two-hole, while Bombard played both left field and right field during the game and also went 1-for-4 with one run from the leadoff spot.

Bowdoin junior center fielder Peter Cimini (Needham, Mass./St. Sebastian's) rounded out the scoring with an RBI double down the left field line in the ninth.

Wheaton (3-2) takes on Rhodes College tomorrow in Auburndale, Florida tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. Bowdoin (0-2) plays Rhode Island College in a doubleheader tomorrow in Winter Haven, Florida with game one scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

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