SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Junior first baseman Timmy Wagner (Hingham, Mass.) hit a two-run single and three pitchers combined to give up just one run on four hits to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) baseball team to a 2-1 victory in game two of a doubleheader over Springfield College this afternoon in New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference play at Archie Allen Field in Springfield, Mass. The Lyons were the home team for the day, despite the Pride hosting the games at Archie Allen Field, on the Springfield campus, after a week of rain rendered Sidell Stadium on the Wheaton campus unplayable.
The Lyons win their third game in a row and eight of their last nine to improve to 9-4 on the season, including 3-0 in league play, while the Pride slip to 11-9 and 0-3.
The game marked the third time this season that Wheaton pitching has allowed five or fewer hits in a game.
The Blue and White scored both of their runs in the bottom of the first, before the visitors countered with their only run in the sixth.
Wagner was 1-3 in the game and senior right fielder Tommy Ambrosone (Hopkinton, Mass.) and senior shortstop Mike Maher (Jefferson, Mass.) each singled and scored a run for the Lyons. First year third baseman Casey Wensley (Raynham, Mass.) contributed with a double in three at-bats. Sophomore starting pitcher Ben Oliveira (Somerset, Mass.) grinded out five innings to qualify for the win and improve to 2-1. The right-hander made big pitches when he had to, yielding just two hits to offset five walks in addition to striking out six batters. Senior middle reliever Liam Goldthwaite (Braintree, Mass.) proved to be the bridge to the ninth with three innings that saw him surrender one run on two hits to go with three strikeouts, before junior righty Joe Mulhern (Taunton, Mass.) nailed down the win with a 1-2-3 ninth that included a strikeout to earn his third save of the year.
Junior designated hitter Cole Zalegowski (North Haven, Conn.) paced the Springfield lineup, going 1-3 with a run batted in, while senior first baseman Ryan Sorgi (Braintree, Mass.) singled and scored a run. Graduate student right fielder Adam Fine (Wynnewood, Pa.) contributed with a single and a stolen base in four at-bats. Sophomore left-handed starter Nate Kelleher-Mochak (Florence, Mass.) (3-2) was outstanding for the Pride, giving up two runs on six hits and no walks, while striking out four in eight complete innings.
Ambrosone laced a single through the right side and Maher reached on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the first before both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. One batter later, Wagner stroked a two-out single to right center to plate both runners to give Wheaton a 2-0 margin.
Those would be the only runs of the game for the Lyons as Kelleher-Mochak settled into a rhythm that saw him allow just one runner to third base for the remainder of the game, while retiring the final 10 batters he faced.
In the meantime, the Wheaton pitching staff was keeping Springfield off the board as well. The Pride finally broke through in the sixth with a run. Sorgi and junior Michael Lepere (Beacon, N.Y.) opened the frame with back-to-back singles and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Zalegowski flew out to center field and Sorgi raced home with the lone Springfield run on the sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Wheaton's bullpen matched its mound counterpart, setting down the final 10 batters they faced to close out the contest.
The Lyons return to action on Monday, April 1 when they travel to Medford, Mass. to take on Tufts University at 3:30 p.m., while the Pride head to Newport, R.I. to play NEWMAC foe nationally-ranked Salve Regina University on April 2 at 3:30 p.m.
