NORTON, Mass. – Sophomore left fielder Kevin Matos (Lawrence, Mass.) blasted a pair of home runs, including a grand slam as part of a seven-RBI effort and sophomore right-hander Ryan McCarroll (Clifton Park, N.Y.) struck out nine over seven complete innings to lead the No. 21 Wheaton College (Mass.) baseball team this afternoon over Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference opener. WPI served as the home team in the game due to it being rescheduled and moved as a result of rain from the day before. The game was halted after seven innings due to the league's 10-run mercy rule and was played in a brisk one hour and 41 minutes.

The Lyons, who are ranked in the most recent D3baseball.com national poll, have won 12 of their last 13 games and improve to 14-3 on the season. The Engineers fall to 10-8 and 0-1.

Matos becomes just the fifth player in school history to hit two home runs twice in a game for Wheaton and the third Lyon to do it in the same season. He previously hit two long balls on March 17 vs. Ithaca College. Matos is also the seventh player in school annals to drive in seven or more runs in a game with the third-highest total in school history. McCarroll scattered six hits and allowed just one unearned run and did not walk a batter to improve to 4-1. Senior shortstop Cavan Brady (Sheffield, Mass.) drove in a pair of runs and was 1-3 with a walk and two runs scored, while junior center fielder AJ Guindon (Coventry, R.I.) was 2-5 with a triple, an RBI and two runs scored from the top of the lineup. Senior catcher Robert Wirtanen (Brentwood, N.H.) collected a pair of hits in three at-bats and reached on a walk to go with a run batted in and two runs scored.

Senior third baseman Jeffrey Brennan (Amsterdam, N.Y.) and sophomore right fielder Andrew Cash (Marlboro, Mass.) led the WPI offense with two hits in three trips. Brennan scored the lone run for the Engineers. Junior right-handed starter Joseph Peregrim (Waterviliet, N.Y.) suffered the defeat after allowing 11 runs (10 earned) on eight hits and five walks to go with three strikeouts in four innings of work.

Wheaton set the tone with six runs in the top of the first inning to take an early 6-0 advantage. Guindon reached on an error to open the game, followed by senior second baseman Mike Maher (Jefferson, Mass.) being issued a walk and senior third baseman Nick Croteau (Cumberland, R.I.) reaching on a bunt single to load the bases with no outs. Brady singled up the middle to bring around Maher Croteau to score the game's first runs. Wirtanen drew a base on balls to re-load the bases, before Matos quickly unloaded them with his first career grand slam on a shot over the right field fence. 

Guindon opened the second with a single through the right side, stole second and scored on a Wirtanen single to left field to give the Lyons a seven-run lead in the second inning.

Wheaton tacked on another run in the third to take an 8-0 cushion. Sophomore designated hitter Tommy Beauregard (Salem, Mass.) worked a walk and Guindon tripled to right field with two outs in his third at-bat in as many innings to bring around Beauregard to score.

The Lyons capped their scoring after four innings with three more runs, courtesy of Matos for a commanding 11-0 lead. Brady received a free pass and Wirtanen singled through the left side to set up Matos, who unleashed a laser that remained the same height for the entirety of its flight over the right field fence for his league-leading seventh round-tripper of the season.

The Engineers looked primed for a big inning in their half of the fourth when they loaded the bases with one out. Brennan and senior first baseman Kyle Johns (Milltown, N.J.) began the frame with back-to-back singles and Cash also singled to push the sacks full. McCarroll struck out the next batter and looked like he would escape the threat with no damage, but was unable to handle a slow come-backer to the mound off the bat of junior center fielder DJ Brooks (Danvers, Mass.) as Brennan scored WPI's run. It was the final tally of the game for either side.