FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Sophomore right fielder Shawn Cali (East Taunton, Mass.) singled home the eventual game-winning run in the top of the 10th inning to give the Wheaton College (Mass.) baseball team a 6-5 victory over host Methodist University tonight at Armstrong-Shelley Field in Fayetteville, N.C.

The Lyons improve to 1-2 on the season, while the Monarchs drop to 7-4.

Wheaton put two runs on the board to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the second before Methodist scored at least one run in each of the next three frames to take a 4-2 margin after four innings. The Lyons scratched out a run in the sixth and added two more in the seventh to take a 5-4 edge, before the Monarchs pulled even in the bottom of the frame at 5-5.

Cali's only hit of the game turned out to be the most important. He also scored a run for Wheaton. Junior designated hitter Justin Colpack (Easthampton, Mass.) was 2-4 with a run batted in and a run scored, while junior catcher Collin Reilly (Marshfield, Mass.) was 2-4 with a walk. First year right-hander Evan Yakavonis (Whitman, Mass.) picked up his first collegiate victory with two innings of scoreless, one-hit relief, while fanning two batters and not issuing a base on balls. Senior southpaw Josh Fischer (Hopkinton, Mass.) hurled three innings of one-run ball on two hits and two walks to go with a pair of strikeouts to set up Yakavonis for the final two frames.

Sophomore designated hitter Banks Hartman (Oak Island, N.C.) was 2-4 with a double, an RBI and a stolen base for Methodist, while sophomore second baseman Brandon Mauger (Altamonte Springs, Fla.) contributed with a 2-5 effort that produced a run batted in and two runs scored. Sophomore center fielder Austin Rinzel (Columbia, S.C.) knocked in a run and was 2-4 with a run and a stolen base and senior right fielder Jackson Deal (China Grove, N.C.) was 3-5 with a run scored from the top of the lineup. Junior righty reliever Jackson Kuhn (Foxfire, N.C.) suffered the loss to fall to 0-1 after giving up one unearned run on three hits and a walk to go with three strikeouts over four innings.

Reilly reached on an infield throwing error to open the 10th inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt for the Lyons, before being lifted for first year pinch-runner Declan Lush (Seekonk, Mass.). One out later, Cali delivered a clutch single to center field to plate Lush with the go-ahead run that stood up for the win.

Wheaton took advantage of another Monarch miscue in the top of the first when senior first baseman Timmy Wagner (Hingham, Mass.) reached on an error by the shortstop, before Colpack beat out an infield single. Senior left fielder Kevin Matos (Lawrence, Mass.) laced an RBI single up the middle to plate Wagner for a 1-0 edge. Reilly followed with a single to load the bases and senior second baseman Tommy Beauregard (Salem, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice that knocked in Colpack.

Methodist got a run back in the bottom of the inning to cut the margin in half at 2-1. Senior shortstop Caleb Rogers (Seminole, Fla.) singled and later went to third on a wild pitch, before scoring on a Rinzel infield single.

The Monarchs put a pair of runs on the board with two doubles in the bottom of the third to take a 3-2 edge. Deal singled to right, before Mauger lifted a double to left center to score him. Hartman followed with a double of his own to plate Mauger with the third run of the game for the home team. Methodist increased its lead to two with some aggressive base running in the fourth. Rinzel reached on an infield single, went to second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third and scored when the throw to third went awry to make it 4-2.

The Lyons closed to within one with a run in the sixth and tacked on two more runs in the seventh for a 5-4 lead. Wheaton loaded the bases in the sixth when first year shortstop Brandon Westerfield (Wakefield, R.I.) reached on a fielder's choice and Reilly and Beauregard worked consecutive free passes. First year center fielder Robbie Lamond (North Kingstown, R.I.) reached on a fielder's choice to force home Westfielder with the tying run. The Lyons took advantage of a spell of wildness from Methodist pitching in the seventh to take the lead. Sophomore third baseman Casey Wensley (Raynham, Mass.) opened the frame with a single to center and Wagner drew a walk, before both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Colpack delivered with a sacrifice fly to right to plate Wensley and even the game for Wheaton at 4-4. Westerfield punched a single to center to bring home Wagner with the rookie's first collegiate hit to put the Lyons' in front again at 5-4.

The Monarchs took advantage of the Lyons' third error of the game in the seventh to knot the game at 5-5. Mauger stung a leadoff single up the middle, before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt. He scored the equalizer when sophomore third baseman Blake Freeman (Graham, N.C.) reached on an error by the Wheaton shortstop. 

The Lyons return to the diamond on Friday, March 7 when they head to Northboro, Mass. to take on Worcester State University at the New England Baseball Complex for a 3:30 p.m. first pitch, while Methodist hosts Johnson & Wales University (R.I.) on March 5 at 4:00 p.m.