NORTON, Mass. – Sophomore left fielder
Shawn Cali (East Taunton, Mass.) hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high six runs to help the Wheaton College (Mass.) baseball team to a 14-3 victory over visiting Suffolk University this afternoon at Sidell Stadium on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.
The Lyons improve to 19-17 on the season, while the Rams fall to 13-22.
Wheaton rapped out 13 hits and was issued 10 walks in the game.
The Lyons opened the scoring with four runs in the bottom of the first, before Suffolk cracked the scoring column with a run in the third. Wheaton matched the run in the bottom of the frame, before the Rams made it a two-run game with a pair of runs in the fourth to pull within 5-3. The Lyons put the game out of reach with five runs in the seventh and four more in the eighth.
Cali finished the day going 2-3 with three runs scored and two walks for Wheaton, while junior shortstop Ray Toth (Granby, Mass.) was 2-4 with a homer of his own and three RBI. Senior first baseman Timmy Wagner (Hingham, Mass.) reached base four times with two singles and two walks in addition to knocking in two runs and scoring three times. First year relief pitcher Evan Yakavonis (Whitman, Mass.) earned the win in relief to up his record to 3-0 after hurling two innings of two-hit scoreless ball and giving up a walk. The outing was part of a five-inning effort by the bullpen to retire the last 12 batters to come to the plate for Suffolk.
Senior right fielder Max Iorio (Hull, Mass.) was 1-4 with a solo home run for the Rams, while senior first baseman Cole Hilliard (Poway, Calif.) was 2-3 with a double. Senior catcher Max Martin (Walpole, Mass.) contributed with a 1-4 day that saw him drive in a run. Junior starting pitcher Colin McNeal (Los Angeles, Calif.) suffered the loss to drop to 0-3 after allowing five runs (one earned) on seven hits and three walks to go with a pair of strikeouts in five innings of work.
The Lyons scored four times in the bottom of the first to take a 4-0 lead. Senior second baseman Tommy Beauregard (Salem, Mass.) reached on an infield error and sophomore center fielder Robbie Lamond (North Kingstown, R.I.) doubled to left center to put both runners in scoring position. Wagner delivered a two-run single to right center to score both runners and give the home team a two-run margin. Cali drew a two-out walk and sophomore catcher Tyler Bellan (Franklin, Mass.) and Toth followed with RBI singles to increase Wheaton's lead by two.
The teams exchanged runs in the third to keep it a four-run difference. Junior shortstop Sam Armbruster (Beverly, Mass.) opened the frame with a single to center for Suffolk's first hit and Hilliard later doubled to put both runners into scoring position. Martin ripped a line drive to right field that the Lyons' right fielder charged in for, but was unable to make the catch on a slide, allowing Armstruster to score, while Hilliard held on the play. First year starting pitcher Jack Ritchie (Raynham, Mass.) induced a double-play ball and got out of the jam with just one run allowed for the home team. The Lyons used aggressive base running to get the run back in the bottom of the inning. Senior designated hitter Kevin Matos (Lawrence, Mass.) singled to right, stole second and then stole third, before scoring when the throw to third was off the mark to give Wheaton a 5-1 advantage.
The Rams scored a pair of runs in the fourth to make it a two-run game. Iorio launched a long ball over the right field fence to lead off the inning. Graduate student third baseman Chris Cimino (Scarborough, Maine) reached on an infield error and later scored Suffolk's third run of the day on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Armbruster.
The contest remained tightly contested until Wheaton crossed the plate five times in the seventh to take a 10-3 lead. The Lyons loaded the bases with no outs to start the inning when Lamond and sophomore third baseman Casey Wensley (Raynham, Mass.) each reached on infield hits that combined to travel about 20 feet, before Wagner was intentionally walked to push the sacks full. Lamond scored on a wild pitch and one out later Cali laced a two-run single through the left side to give the Lyons an 8-3 cushion. Toth belted his third home run of the season over the center field fence to give Wheaton a seven-run lead.
The Lyons loaded the bases again in the eighth and scored four runs on one swing of the bat. Wensley and Wagner drew back-to-back walks to open the frame, before junior pinch-hitter Justin Colpack (Easthampton, Mass.) also worked a walk to push the sacks full. Cali found himself with his second bases-loaded opportunity in as many innings and came through again with his fourth homer of the year over the center field fence for his first career grand slam.
Wheaton returns to action on Saturday, May 3 when it heads to Providence, R.I. to take on Rhode Island College at 12:00 p.m., while the Rams host University of Hartford for a Conference of New England doubleheader on May 3 at Noon.
