SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The Western New England University baseball team rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth and homered in the 10th to come away with a 6-5 victory over visiting Wheaton College (Mass.) this afternoon at Trelease Park in Springfield, Mass.
The Lyons dip to 14-10 on the season, while the Golden Bears improve to 13-11.
Both teams scored twice in the fourth for a 2-2 score heading into the sixth. Wheaton scored single runs in the sixth, eighth and ninth to take a 5-2 lead, before Western New England tied it and won it in the final two frames.
Junior catcher Nick Giangregorio (Belmont, Mass.) paced the Lyons at the plate, going 2-4 with three runs batted in, while senior left fielder Kevin Matos (Lawrence, Mass.) was 2-4 with a home run, a stolen base and two runs scored. First year third baseman Jeremy Aylward (Hingham, Mass.) reached base twice with a single and a walk. Senior righty reliever Joe Mulhern (Taunton, Mass.) was saddled with the loss and drops to 0-1 after giving up a run on a hit in a third of an inning. It was a staff day on the mound for Wheaton and junior right-hander Jack Kelleher-Mochak (Northampton, Mass.) shined in his inning of work, striking out all three batters he faced.
Sophomore designated hitter Corey Kilroy (Walpole, Mass.) was 1-5 with a home run for the Golden Bears and first year catcher Leo Paragarino (Danbury, Mass.) reached base three times with a single and a pair of walks. Sophomore shortstop Canon Marshall (Enfield, Conn.) hit a two-run triple and sophomore Tyler Knoracki (North Haven, Conn.) was 1-2 with an RBI double. Junior relief pitcher Lucas Kamoen (Killingworth, Conn.) picked up the win to improve to 2-0 after hurling a one-hit, scoreless 10th inning.
Kilroy ended the game with a long ball over the left field fence with one out in the bottom of the 10th to give the home team a 6-5 edge.
The Lyons retired the lead-off batter in the bottom of the ninth, but the next five batters all reached for Western New England and, before it was all set and done, a 5-2 deficit turned into a 5-5 tie to force extra frames. Sophomore center fielder Jack Gamache (Northborough, Mass.) stroked a single to left field, before senior third baseman Trey Young (South Kingstown, R.I.) drew a walk. Marshall belted a triple to the left-center gap to score Gamache and Young and make it a one-run game. Kornacki followed with an RBI double to center to knot the game.
Wheaton threatened to reclaim the lead in its half of the 10th. Junior shortstop Ray Toth (Granby, Mass.) reached on an error and Aylward laced a single through the right side to put runners on the corners with one out. First year Logan Downey (Warwick, R.I.) looked to get Toth home with the go-ahead run on a bunt, but first year relief pitcher Ryan Bulger (Cheshire, Conn) made the play on the ball and cut down Toth with a throw to the plate.
The Lyons scored the first two runs of the afternoon in the top of the fourth inning. Sophomore designated hitter Casey Wensley (Raynham, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice and senior first baseman Timmy Wagner (Hingham, Mass.) and Matos were each issued a free pass to load the bases. Giangregorio came through with a single to left field to bring home two runs and give the visitors a 2-0 margin.
The Golden Bears answered in kind with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to pull even at 2-2. Senior left fielder Jack Loftus (Hanover, N.H.) reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and went to third on a single up the middle from Paragarino. Sophomore Greg Nivison (Monroe, Conn.) delivered a single to left to plate Loftus and cut the margin in half. Kilroy reached on an infield error to load the bases and set up an RBI walk from Gamache to bring home the tying run.
Wheaton's bullpen was outstanding over the next four innings, limiting the home team to just one hit, while recording six strikeouts and setting down 10 straight batters heading into the ninth.
Wheaton scored in the sixth to take a 3-2 edge. Matos reached on a two-out bunt single, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch, before Giangregorio came through again with a run-scoring single to left field. Matos provided another run in the eighth with a solo blast over the right-center field fence for his seventh round-tripper of the season. The Lyons increased their lead to three with another run in the ninth. Sophomore center fielder Robbie Lamond (North Kingstown, R.I.) opened the inning with a single through the left side, before Wensley reached on a bunt single. Lamond stole third base and Wagner followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Lamond with Wheaton's final run.
The Lyons return to action tomorrow when they travel to Worcester, Mass. to play New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference foe Clark University at 3:35 p.m., while Western New England heads to Wenham, Mass. tomorrow for a 1:00 p.m. twinbill with Gordon College.
