WORCESTER, Mass. — Junior starting pitcher Ben Oliveira (Somerset, Mass.) allowed just one run in six-plus innings of work and sophomore center fielder Robbie Lamond (North Kingstown, R.I.) doubled and homered to drive in three runs to lead the fifth-seeded Wheaton College (Mass.) baseball team over number four seed Clark University, 12-1, this afternoon in the opening round of the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference Championship Tournament at Granger Field in Worcester, Mass.
The Lyons have won four straight and five of their last six to improve to 22-17, while the Cougars fall to 25-14. Wheaton advances to the double-elimination round of the NEWMAC Tournament and will take on top-seeded Salve Regina University tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. in Newport, R.I.
The result marks the most runs scored in a playoff game for Wheaton, while allowing just one or fewer runs since it defeated Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 14-0, on April 29, 2006 in the NEWMAC Tourney. The Lyons hit four home runs in the game for their highest total in a playoff game since at least 2010.
Wheaton racked up 13 hits and took advantage of three Clark errors.
The Lyons scored six times in the top of the second, before adding a run in the fourth and three in the seventh to take a 10-0 lead. The Cougars got on the board with a run in the bottom of the seventh and Wheaton capped the scoring with a pair of runs in the eighth.
Oliveira allowed just five hits and three walks to go with four strikeouts to improve to 6-1 on the season. The Lyons hit four home runs on the day. Lamond was 2-5 at the plate with two runs scored. Senior first baseman Timmy Wagner (Hingham, Mass.) homered and knocked in three runs, while scoring a pair of runs. Junior shortstop Ray Toth (Granby, Mass.) was 2-3 with a solo homer, drew a pair of walks and scored two runs, while sophomore catcher Tyler Bellan (Franklin, Mass.) was 1-4 with a home run, two runs scored and a walk. Senior second baseman Tommy Beauregard (Salem, Mass.) finished the day going 2-6 with two RBI and a run scored from the top of the order.
Graduate student catcher Anthony Locasto (New Rochelle, N.Y.) supplied the Cougars' only run with a solo round-tripper. Junior designated hitter Michael Soares (Concord, Mass.) and junior third baseman Dom Mariani (Walpole, Mass.) were each 2-4 on the day, including a double from Mariani. First year starting pitcher Robby Roth (New Providence, R.I.) was tagged with the loss to drop to 3-5 after giving up six runs on four hits and three walks in two and two-thirds innings pitched.
Wheaton broke the game open early with six two-out runs in the top of the second inning. Seven straight Lyons reached base safely with two outs. Sophomore left fielder Shawn Cali (East Taunton, Mass.) and Bellan drew back-to-back walks, before Toth singled to load the bases. First year right fielder Declan Lush (Seekonk, Mass.) laced a single through the left side to drive in Cali with the first run of the day. Beauregard kept the inning going with a two-run single through the left side, before Lamond blasted his fifth home run of the season to drive in three runs and give Wheaton a healthy 6-0 lead.
The Lyons increased their lead to double-digits with a run in the fourth and three in the seventh to take a 10-0 cushion. Toth opened the fourth with his fourth home run of the year to make it 7-0. Sophomore third baseman Casey Wensley (Rayhnam, Mass.) led off the seventh with an infield single, before Wagner clubbed his seventh long ball of the season. Bellan later put one over the fence as well, with two outs, to give Wheaton a 10-run advantage with his third homer of the year.
Locastro prevented the shutout with one swing of the bat, to lead off the Clark half of the seventh, with his sixth homer of the season.
The Lyons added two more runs in the eighth to take a 12-1 advantage. Lamond belted a one-out double and later scored when Wagner reached on an error. Senior designated hitter Kevin Matos (Lawrence, Mass.) also reached base on an infield error to put Wagner on second. Cali followed with an RBI single to left to cap the scoring.
