AUBURNDALE, Fla. -- Senior shortstop Cavan Brady (Sheffield, Mass.) collected four hits and knocked in three runs, while sophomore left fielder Kevin Matos (Lawrence, Mass.) drove in a pair of runs with three hits to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) baseball team over State University of New York Brockport, 12-6, this afternoon as part of the RussMatt Invitational at Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale, Fla.

The Lyons improve to 4-2 on the season, while the Golden Eagles dip to 5-4.

The teams were tied through four innings, before Wheaton broke the affair open with three runs in the fifth, two in the seventh and four more in the eighth innings. The Lyons matched their season high with 15 hits.

Brady registered the first four-hit effort of his career, including a double and scored a pair of runs and Matos was 3-5 with a double and a stolen base for Wheaton. Senior third baseman Nick Croteau (Cumberland, R.I.) finished the game going 2-4 with two runs batted in, two runs scored, a pair of walks and a handful of sparkling plays at third base, while sophomore first baseman Anthony Teberio (Andover, Mass.) was 3-5 with two runs scored. Junior righty Liam Goldthwaite (Braintree, Mass.) earned the win to improve to 2-0 after giving up three runs and scattering nine hits over six frames that saw him fan three batters.

Graduate student designated hitter Patrick Bigham (Rochester, N.Y.) paced Brockport going 2-4 with two RBI, while graduate student second baseman Nicholas Pastore (Wynantskill, N.Y.) was 2-4 with a double and a run scored and junior right fielder Zach Eldred (East Greenbush, N.Y.) was 2-4 with a run scored. Graduate student right-hander Matthew Colucci (Amherst, N.Y.) (1-1) suffered the loss after allowing six runs on seven hits and a pair of walks in five innings to go with four strikeouts.

The Golden Eagles countered the Lyons throughout the first three innings. Wheaton scored twice in the top of the second and Brockport followed suit in the bottom of the frame only to see the Lyons score a run in the third, before the Golden Eagles scored one of their own in the bottom half of the inning to make it 3-3.

Wheaton took a 6-3 lead after scoring three times in its half of the fifth inning. The Lyons loaded the bases with one out in the frame with Teberio and junior center fielder AJ Guindon (Coventry, R.I.) each picking up singles prior to senior second baseman Mike Maher (Jefferson, Mass.) drawing a walk. With the bases loaded Tiberio scored on a wild pitch to give the Lyons a 4-3 edge. Croteau ripped a single up the middle to plate Guindon and Maher and increase Wheaton's lead to 6-3.

Maher and Croteau were in the middle of another rally for the Lyons in the seventh to give them an 8-3 advantage. Maher worked a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and Croteau beat out a perfect bunt down the third base line to put runners on the corners with no outs. Maher scored on a balk, before Brady cracked a double to left center to Croteau to the plate and give Wheaton a five-run lead. 

The Lyons effectively put the game out of reach with four more runs in the eighth to take a commanding 12-3 lead. Teberio laced a leadoff single through the left side before Guindon and Croteau got on base via the walk to load the bases with two outs. Brady came through again with a two-run single to center to bring home Teberio and Guindon to make it 10-3. Senior Robert Wirtanen (Brentwood, N.H.) plated two more runs with a double down the left field line to clear the bases with Croteau and Brady both crossing the plate and increase the Wheaton cushion to 12-3.

Brockport scored three times in the ninth to pull to within 12-6, but it wasn't enough. The Golden Eagles loaded the bases with one out in the ninth after first year Sean Becker (Orchard Park, N.Y.) belted a double down the left field line for his first collegiate hit to open the bottom of the ninth, sophomore Alan Michael LeFrois (Churchville-Chili, N.Y.) drew a base on balls and junior Logan Wing (Syracuse, N.Y.) reached on an error. Sophomore Frank Vanzillotta (Dutchess County, N.Y.) and junior Mason Davis (Buffalo, N.Y.) were each credited with an RBI after working back-to-back free passes to force in a run each to set the count at 12-5. Wing later scored another run from third following the third balk called in the game.

The Lyons return to play on Wednesday, March 15 when they take on Westminster College at 9:00 a.m. at Chain O' Lakes Park in Winter Haven, Fla., while the Golden Eagles are in action on March 16 against Stockton University in Auburndale, Fla. at 1:30 p.m.