NEWPORT, R.I. – The Salve Regina University baseball team scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take home an 8-5 victory over No. 17 Wheaton College (Mass.) this afternoon at Reynolds Field. 

The Lyons' win streak ends at four as they drop to 16-4 on the season, while the Seahawks improve to 13-7.

Wheaton took an early 4-0 lead with four runs in the top of the first before Salve Regina rallied for three runs in the fifth and two in the seventh for a 5-4 edge. The Lyons knotted the game at 5-5 with a run in the eighth, before the Seahawks scored the deciding runs in the bottom of the inning.

Sophomore left fielder Kevin Matos (Lawrence, Mass.) led Wheaton at the plate, going 3-4 with a home run and two runs batted in to go with two runs scored, while sophomore first baseman Anthony Teberio (Andover, Mass.) was 2-4 with two RBI. Junior center fielder AJ Guindon (Coventry, R.I.) was 3-5 with a run scored. Sophomore righty reliever Joe Mulhern (Taunton, Mass.) suffered the loss for the Lyons, giving up three runs on three hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning to dip to 1-1. Senior shortstop Cavan Brady (Sheffield, Mass.) drew a walk, but was held hitless for the first time in 16 games. 

Senior second baseman Dustin Siqueira (Trumbull, Conn.) paced the Salve Regina offense with a 3-5 effort to go with two runs batted in, while junior center fielder Tyler Petrosino (Beverly, Mass.) was 2-4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI. Senior right fielder Matt D'Amato (Midland Park, N.J.) also contributed with a 2-4 showing. The Seahawks bullpen turned in a stellar effort, allowing just one run in eight and one-third innings pitched. Sophomore right-handed reliever Jason Arrigo (Basking Ridge, N.J.) was outstanding, allowing one run on a solo homer, while striking out seven in three and a third innings of relief to improve to 2-0 on the season.

Salve Regina took the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the eighth. Senior third baseman Will McCarthy (Pembroke, Mass.) drew a walk and junior shortstop Michael Breen (Auburn, Mass.) followed with a double down the right field line to put both runners into scoring position with one out. McCarthy scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch before first year Shane Williams (Georgetown, Mass) came through with a pinch-single to center field to plate Breen with the second run of the frame. Williams stole second and Petrosino dumped a single into center field to bring home the home team's eighth and final run of the day.

Wheaton scored four runs in the top of the first inning and worked the Seahawks' starting pitcher for 51 pitches to chase him from the game with two outs in the first inning. Guindon reached on an error before senior third baseman Nick Croteau (Cumberland, R.I.) and Brady were issued free passes to load the bases with one out. Matos singled to center to plate Guindon with the game's first run before senior catcher Robert Wirtanen (Brentwood, N.H.) grounded out to first to push home the second run for the Lyons. Teberio laced a single to center field to drive in two more runs to give Wheaton a 4-0 margin.

The Lyons' left-handed starting pitcher Josh Fischer (Hopkinton, Mass.) faced just one batter over the minimum through the first four innings and gave up just two hits during that time, before Salve Regina broke through for three runs in the fifth. McCarthy opened the inning with a single to left field, before first year left fielder Evan O'Rourke (Arlington, Mass.) ripped a single down the left field line to put runners on the corners with no outs. Breen followed with a sacrifice fly to center to plate McCarthy with the Seahawks' first run of the afternoon. Petrosino later kept the rally going with a two-out double to left center to bring home another run, while a Siqueira single to left field drove in a run to cut the deficit to 4-3.

Salve Regina took advantage of two hit batters and an error to score a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to take its first lead of the game at 5-4. Breen and Petrosino were both plunked by pitches. Breen found himself on third base after advancing on a sacrifice bunt and a fly ball to put runners on first and third with two outs for the Seahawks. Siqueira followed with a single to left field to drive in Breen and looked to take second on the throw back to the infield, but the throw got away and Petrosino scored the go-ahead run to make it 5-4 for Salve Regina. 

Wheaton pulled even when Matos launched a tremendous blast down the right field line and over the fence with two strikes for his eighth roundtripper of the season to lead off the frame and make it 5-5, but Arrigo ended the threat by setting down the next three batters on strikes.

The Lyons return to action on Saturday, April 8 when they host New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference rival Springfield College for a twinbill starting at 12:00 p.m., while the Seahawks travel to Dorchester, Mass. to take on University of Massachusetts Boston for noon doubleheader on the same day.