NORTON, Mass. — Wheaton College (Mass.) baseball fell to visiting Worcester State University, 7-5, this afternoon at Sidell Stadium on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.
The Lyons slip to 11-9 on the season, while the Lancers win their fourth in a row and five of their last six to improve to 12-4.
Worcester State scored four unearned runs in the top of the fourth and never relinquished the lead. Wheaton got a run back in the bottom of the inning, before the Lancers matched it with a run in the top of the fourth to maintain their four-run margin. The Lyons closed within a run with three in the bottom of the frame to make it 5-4, but Worcester State scored single runs in the sixth and seventh to build a three-run lead. Wheaton scored a run and threatened in the ninth, but fell short.
Sophomore center fielder Robbie Lamond (North Kingstown, R.I.) led the Lyons at the plate, going 3-5 with a home run, a double, two RBI and a pair of runs scored. Sophomore Casey Wensley (Raynham, Mass.) reached base four times and became the 10th player in school history to record four or more walks in a game. Sophomore Shawn Cali (East Taunton, Mass.) contributed with a 1-3 effort, including a walk and a run scored. First year right-handed pitcher Jack Cali (East Taunton, Mass.) made his first collegiate start on the mound, giving up four unearned runs on three hits and two walks in an inning-plus of work and was saddled with the loss to drop to 0-1.
First year designated hitter Riggs Catlin (Dedham, Mass.) and sophomore shortstop Ryan Jewett (Natick, Mass.) each drove in a pair of runs to lead Worcester State. Catlin was 2-4 with two runs scored and a walk, while Jewett was 2-4 on the day for the Lancers. Senior second baseman Xavier Quezada (Providence, R.I.) was 2-4 with a double and an RBI and junior catcher Joe Auger (Lowell, Mass.) contributed with a double and a run batted in. Senior relief pitcher Mike Bean (Tampa, Fla.) picked up the win to improve to 1-0 after tossing four and a third innings of scoreless ball, while allowing just three hits and a walk to go with a strikeout. First year reliever Matthew Direnzo (Leicester, Mass.) was credited with his second save of the season, giving up a run on a hit and two walks in addition to striking out the side in the ninth inning.
Worcester State scored four times in the top of the first to take a 4-0 lead before Wheaton had stepped to the plate. The Lancers loaded the bases with one out after first year right fielder Christopher Mondesir (Roslindale, Mass.) and sophomore third baseman Tyler Normandie (Lowell, Mass.) sandwiched walks around graduate student first baseman Tyler Smith (Leominster, Mass.) reaching on an infield error. Senior center fielder Anthony Iamarone (Providence, R.I.) grounded out to third to score Mondesir with the first run of the day. Catlin followed with a two-run single to left to give the visitors a 3-0 lead. Auger continued the rally with two outs, smacking an RBI double to center field to bring home Catlin with the fourth run of the frame.
The Lyons got a run back in the bottom of the inning when Lamond belted his second homer of the season to make it 4-1.
Worcester State loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth, but Wheaton pitching limited the Lancers to just one run in the inning. Catlin laced a leadoff single through the left side, before Auger and Quezada were issued back-to-back walks. Jewett reached on a fielder's choice to score Catlin, but that was all the runs Worcester State would get.
The Lyons score three runs in the bottom of the inning to pull within 5-4. Wheaton matched its foe by putting the first three batters on base to open the inning. Sophomore designated hitter Nick Ayres (Duxbury, Mass.) was hit by a pitch for the second time in as many plate appearances, before senior left fielder Kevin Matos (Lawrence, Mass.) reached on an infield single and Shawn Cali drew a walk. Junior catcher Nick Giangregorio (Belmont, Mass.) hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Ayres and Matos was right behind him as the throw to third got away and allowed him to score after tagging up from second base. Lamond later whacked a double to center to plate Cali and make it a 5-4 ball game.
The Lancers didn't waste any time scoring in the top of the sixth. Quezada led off with a double to right center and Jewett followed with a single to center field to bring home Quezada. Worcester State tacked on another run in the seventh to increase its lead to 7-4. Normandie opened the frame with a single and Iamarone was hit by a pitch. Two outs later, Quezada came through with a run-scoring single to center field to bring Nomandie around to score the seventh run.
The Lyons looked to rally for the win in the bottom of the ninth after loading the bases with no outs. Lamond led off with a single to left and Wensley and Wagner both walked to push the sacks full. One out later, Matos clubbed the first pitch he saw deep down the right field line, but it hooked foul. He was set down on strikes by Direnzo for the Lancers, before a wild pitch led to Lamond scampering home to cut the margin to a pair of runs. Direnzo ended the contest with his third strikeout of the inning.
Worcester State returns to action on Friday, April 4 when it hosts Westfield State University at 2:00 p.m., while Wheaton hosts New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference foe Emerson College on the same day for a noon doubleheader at Sidell Stadium.
