BABSON PARK, Mass. — The Wheaton College (Mass.) baseball team fell to host Babson College in a 17-10 slug-fest this afternoon in New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference action at Govoni Field in Babson Park, Mass.
The Lyons dip to 18-17 overall and 9-7 in league play, while the Beavers improve to 23-10 and 8-6.
The teams combined for 27 runs on 31 hits. Wheaton saw 10 different batters collect at least one hit in the game, while Babson boasted four batters with multiple hits, including three with three knocks each.
The Lyons cracked the scoring column with a run in the first to take a 1-0 edge, but the Beavers broke out their bats to score nine unanswered runs to take a 9-1 advantage through four innings. Wheaton punched back with four runs in the fifth to cut the deficit to 9-5, but Babson added two more runs to increase its margin to 11-5 in the bottom of the frame. The Lyons continued to claw back into the game with four more runs in the sixth to pull within 11-9, but the Beavers scored a run in the seventh and five more in the eighth to take a 17-9 cushion. Wheaton closed the scoring with a run in the top of the ninth.
Sophomore third baseman Casey Wensley (Raynham, Mass.) registered his third four-hit effort of the season for the Lyons, going 4-5 with a home run, a double, three runs batted in and two runs scored. Senior first baseman Timmy Wagner (Hingham, Mass.) was 2-5 with a homer and a triple to go with three RBI and a pair of runs scored, while senior left fielder Kevin Matos (Lawrence, Mass.) also hit a round-tripper and doubled as part of a three-RBI day. First year Declan Lush (Seekonk, Mass.) hit the fourth long ball of the day for Wheaton. Sophomore lefty starter Aidan Cardoza (Dartmouth, Mass.) suffered the loss after giving up five runs in an inning and a third on five hits and a walk and falls to 2-5 on the season.
Graduate student third baseman Brant Savage (Charlton, Mass.) and junior Zander Teator (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) combined to drive in 10 runs for Babson. Savage led all hitters and matched his career-high with six RBI after a 3-4 effort that included a home run, two runs scored and a pair of walks. Zander was 2-4 with four RBI, a double, a run scored and a walk. Senior first baseman Justin Guest (West Windsor, N.J.) also had three hits and drove in two runs in addition to scoring four times and drawing a walk. Sophomore right fielder Ryan Liss (Hollywood, Fla.) was 3-5 with a double, four runs scored and a run batted in. Junior right-handed reliever Connor Doan (Pasadena, Texas) was credited with the win to improve to 3-0 after giving up no runs on two hits in a third of an inning and Teator picked up his sixth save of the year after coming into a two-run game and hurling the final two innings, allowing one run on three hits to go with a strikeout.
The Lyons scored eight runs over two innings to cut the margin to 11-9. Wheaton scored four runs in a hurry with two outs in the top of the fifth when sophomore center fielder Robbie Lamond (North Kingstown, R.I.) singled and Wensley followed with a double to the right-center gap, before Wagner ripped an opposite field triple down the right field line to plate Lamond and Wensley. Matos launched his team-high 11th homer of the year over the right field fence to cut the deficit to 9-5.
The Beavers got two runs back in the bottom of the inning to increase their advantage to 11-5. Guest and Liss hit back-to-back singles before Savage followed suit with the home team's third straight hit on a single to plate Guest. Liss later scored on a wild pitch to give Babson a six-run lead.
The Lyons put up their second four-spot in as many innings to make it a two-run game. Junior shortstop Ray Toth (Granby, Mass.) was hit by a pitch and senior second baseman Tommy Beauregard (Salem, Mass.) singled, before Wensley cleared the bases with his fifth homer of the year. Wagner matched him with his fifth round-tripper as well to give Wheaton back-to-back jacks and close within 11-9.
The Beavers tacked on another run in the seventh, before busting out again in the eighth with five runs to take an eight-run lead. Guest reached on an error with one out in the seventh, before later scoring on a Teator sacrifice fly. Babson added another run in the eighth on a Santos RBI single and then loaded the bases with two outs after Guest worked a walk and Liss was hit by a pitch. Savage delivered with a grand slam home run to inflate the Beavers' cushion to 17-9.
The Lyons capped the day's scoring in the ninth when Lush crushed a pinch-hit homer for his first collegiate hit to give Wheaton its 10th run.
Wheaton opened the scoring in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead. Lamond reached on an infield error and went to third on a single by Wensley, before scoring on a double down the line off the bat of Matos.
Babson responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Santos was hit by a pitch as one of five straight Beavers to reach base safely to begin the inning. Guest singled to center and Liss followed with an RBI single through the right side to knot the game at 1-1. Savage and Teator recorded consecutive run-scoring singles to give the home team a two-run lead.
Babson added two more runs in the second to increase its lead to 5-1. Graduate student Thomas Parisi (Somers, N.Y.) reached on an infield error to begin the frame and graduate student Jack Julian (Manchester, Mass.) drew a walk, before both runners were pushed into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Guest came through with a two-run single down the right field line to make it a four-run game.
The Beavers looked to put the game away early with four unearned runs in the fourth to take a 9-1 lead. Julian led off with an infield single to the pitcher, before scoring on a two-out error. Savage was issued a walk, before Taitor belted a two-run double to right field to extend Babson's margin to 8-1. Senior Walter Sadowsky (Morristown, N.J.) followed with a single to left-center to bring around Teator with the ninth run.
The Lyons return to action on Thursday, May 1 when they host Suffolk University at Sidell Stadium for a 4:00 p.m. first pitch, while the Beavers head to Springfield, Mass. to take on league rival Springfield College in a twin bill on May 3 at 12:00 p.m. to close out the conference slate.
