BABSON PARK, Mass. – The Wheaton College (Mass.) baseball team closed within a run twice, but host Babson College was able to hang on for a 6-4 victory this afternoon in a New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference match-up at Govoni Field in Babson Park, Mass.
The Lyons dip to 15-9 overall and 9-4 in league play, while the Beavers improve to 18-9 and 8-3.
Both teams reached double-digits in hits with Wheaton registered 11 knocks from eight different hitters and Babson collecting 10.
The Beavers scored four runs in the first two innings to stake them to a lead that held up until the Lyons scored three times in the top of the sixth to cut the margin to a run. Babson got a run back in the bottom of the frame to take a two-run lead, before Wheaton cut the deficit to one again with a single run in the seventh. The Beavers added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth to take a 6-4 lead.
Senior shortstop Mike Maher (Jefferson, Mass.) was 2-5 with two runs batted in, a stolen base and a run scored for the Lyons, while first year third baseman Casey Wensley (Raynham, Mass.) was 2-4 with an RBI. Junior first baseman Timmy Wagner (Hingham, Mass.) contributed with two hits in four at-bats and senior center field AJ Guindon (Coventry, R.I.) was 1-4 with a double and a pair of runs scored. Sophomore starting pitcher Ben Oliveira (Somerset, Mass.) was saddled with the loss after yielding four runs on six hits and three walks to go with four strikeouts to drop to 3-2 on the season.
Graduate student right fielder Luke Tanner (Los Angelis, Calif.) led Babson, going 2-5 with a homer, a double, two RBI and two runs scored and graduate student designated hitter John Nowak (Pelham, N.Y.) was 2-4 with two runs batted in. Senior second baseman Tanner Santos (Bethany, Conn.) was 2-4 with a double, a stolen base and a pair of runs scored from the top of the order. First year right-handed starter Jason Finklestein (Walpole, Mass.) picked up the win to improve to 5-1 after giving up three runs on five hits and three walks to go with six strikeouts. Sophomore southpaw reliever Zander Teator (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth to earn his second save of the season.
Wheaton faced a four-run deficit after five innings of play, before rapping out five hits and scoring three runs in the top of the sixth. Guindon opened the frame with a double down the left field line and scored when senior right fielder Tommy Ambrosone (Hopkinton, Mass.) reached on a bunt single and took second on an errant throw to first, which also allowed Guindon to score the Lyons' first run. Ambrosone advanced to third on a wild pitch and Maher delivered an RBI single to center field to cut the deficit to 4-2. Finklestein fanned the next two batters, but Wensley came through with a single to center to score Maher and Wensley advanced to second on a throwing error. Wheaton looked to tie the contest at 4-4 when first year left fielder Shawn Cali (East Taunton, Mass.) followed with a single to right field, but Wensley was cut down at the plate on a strike from Tanner in right field to keep the home team in front.
The Beavers got a run back in the bottom of the inning to increase their lead to 5-3. Senior shortstop Jack Julian (Manchester, Mass.) laced a lead-off single down the left field line and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Nowak gave Babson another run with a two-out single to center to plate Julian with the fifth run.
The Lyons threatened to knot the score again in the seventh, but managed just one run to climb within 5-4. Guindon worked a two-out walk with Ambrosone doing the same. Maher punched a single to right to drive in Guindon, but Ambrosone was thrown out on his way to third to limit the damage and keep it a one-run game. Wheaton's bats put pressure on its hosts again in the top of the eighth when the Lyons loaded the bases after singles from junior designated hitter Kevin Matos (Lawrence, Mass.), Wagner and a two-out bunt single from first year catcher Tyler Bellan (Franklin, Mass.). Graduate student righty reliever Zach Magee (Indianapolis, Ind.) was able to fan the next hitter to end the threat for the home team.
Tanner gave the Beavers an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth with a solo blast that cleared the left field fence by plenty.
Teator closed out the game by fanning the side to pick up the save for Babson.
The first four batters all reached and two scored to open the bottom half of the first inning for the Beavers. Babson added another run to take a 3-0 lead. Santo smacked a double to center and Tanner traded places with him after a double of his own to knock in the first run of the day. Senior third baseman Brant Savage (Charlton, Mass.) followed with an RBI single to left and Nowak drew a walk. Junior left fielder Walter Sadowski (Morristown, N.J.) later walked to load the bases, before senior catcher Ike Kiely (Falmouth, Maine) reached on an infield hit to bring home Savage with the third run of the frame.
Santos was the catalyst again in the second for the Beavers, lacing a single through the right side, before stealing second base. Nowak came through with a two-out single to left to knock in Santos to make it 4-0.
Wheaton returns to action on Thursday, April 25 when it hosts Tufts University at Sidell Stadium for a 3:00 p.m. first pitch, while Babson hosts University of Massachusetts Boston tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.
