NEWPORT, R.I. — The Wheaton College (Mass.) baseball team shook off a game one loss and posted a 9-4 win over No. 3/4 Salve Regina University to salvage a split of a New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference doubleheader this afternoon at Reynolds Field in Newport, R.I.
The Lyons, who received votes in the most recent American Baseball Coaches Association national poll, have won four of their last five and improve to 11-4 overall and 2-1 in league play. The decision over the Seahawks represents a win over the highest-ranked team Wheaton has faced since a 4-2 victory over No. 1 Johns Hopkins University in the opening game of the NCAA Super Regional on May 26, 2023.
Salve Regina, which is ranked fourth by the ABCA and third in the most recent D3baseball.com national survey, had its 13-game win streak snapped and slipped to 13-2 and 2-1.
The Lyons scored five runs in the top of the fourth and never looked back, answering a run in the bottom of the fourth by the home team with two more runs in the top of the fifth to take a 7-1 lead. The Seahawks pulled within three runs with a run in the sixth and two in the seventh, but Wheaton closed the door with two final runs in the eighth.
The Lyons featured four hitters with two or more hits, including sophomore designated hitter Logan Downey (Warwick, R.I.), who was 3-4 with two runs batted in, a run scored, a double, a stolen base and a walk. Senior second baseman Marcus Rodrigues (Lincoln, R.I.) was 3-4 from the top of the lineup with two RBI and first year shortstop Evan Jones (West Haven, Conn.) was 2-4 with two runs batted in and a pair of runs scored. Senior first baseman Collin Reilly (Marshfield, Mass.) contributed with a 3-5 outing that saw him knock in a run and score a run. Junior southpaw Aiden Cardoza (Dartmouth, Mass.) picked up the win to improve to 2-0 after hurling seven innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk to go with three strikeouts.
Sophomore center fielder Danny Rogers (New Canaan, Conn.) paced Salve Regina at the plate with two hits in four at-bats and an RBI. Sophomore shortstop Grady Schopps (Fairfield, Conn.) was 2-3 with a run batted in and senior third baseman Matt Stokes (Summit, N.J.) knocked in a run with a double in four trips to the plate. Sophomore left-hander Brady Shea (Worcester, Mass.) suffered the loss to drop to 1-1 with four runs allowed in three and a third innings on four hits and two walks to go with five strikeouts.
Wheaton forced the issue and put pressure on the Seahawks with aggressive base running to score the first five runs of the game in the top of the fourth inning. Reilly opened the frame with a double to left, before taking third on a passed ball. First year left fielder Brayden Lewis (Hopedale, Mass.) drew a full-count walk to put runners on the corners with no outs. Downey managed to push a perfect bunt down the first base side to score Reilly from third and reach first on the play. Lewis and Downey both moved into scoring position on a double-steal, before senior third baseman Ray Toth (Granby, Mass.) was issued a four-pitch walk to load the bases. Jones came through with the biggest hit of his young career. Shea was lifted after throwing two balls to Jones, in favor of senior reliever Joe DeRienzo (Trumbull, Conn.). Jones greeted the new pitcher with a 2-2 opposite field single down the right field line to bring Lewis and Downey around to score and give the Lyons a 3-0 margin. Junior catcher Ty Bellan (Franklin, Mass.) stepped in to line a single to center and plate Toth with the fourth run of the frame. Jones and Bellan moved up on a wild pitch, before Rodrigues flew out to right to bring home the tagging Evans from third and give Wheaton a 5-0 advantage.
The Seahawks got a run back in the bottom of the inning to cut the difference to 5-1. Senior left fielder Evan O'Rourke (Arlington, Mass.) worked a walk and Stokes later pulled a two-out double down the left field line to put the home team on the board with its first run of the game.
The Lyons tacked on two more runs to increase their lead to 7-1. Sophomore right fielder Declan Lush (Seekonk, Mass.) drew a 3-2 walk and advanced to second on a passed ball, before Lewis ripped a double down the left field line to bring Lush around to score from second. Downey traded places with Lewis after smacking a double of his own to right field to give Wheaton a six-run cushion.
Salve Regina scored a two-out run in the sixth and added two more runs in the seventh to pull within 7-4. O'Rourke was hit by a pitch in the sixth, scampered to second on a passed ball and scored on a single to left off the bat of Rogers. Senior first baseman Elliot Hamilton (Glastonbury, Conn.) and first year Nick Russo (Cedar Grove, N.J.) opened the seventh with back-to-back singles to open the seventh, before Schopps singled up the middle to drive in the Seahawks' third run. Senior designated hitter Shea Donovan (Milton, Mass.) knocked another run in with a sacrifice fly to make it a three-run game for Salve Regina, but it was its last run of the contest.
The Lyons added two insurance runs in the eighth to help ensure the victory. Jones was hit by a pitch, before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt from Bellan. Wheaton continued to put pressure on the home team with Rodrigues executing a hit-and-run with a single up the middle to bring home Evans with the eighth Lyon marker. Wheaton's last run was a product of its aggressive brand of play as well with junior center fielder Robbie Lamond (North Kingstown, R.I.) reaching on a fielder's choice, stealing second and then scoring on an infield single. Reilly grounded a ball toward the left side that was prevented from going to the outfield on a diving stop by the shortstop, but Lamond continued his way to the plate as the throw went behind him to third base.
Senior righty Ben Oliveira (Somerset, Mass.) slammed the door for Lyons, tossing two scoreless, two-hit innings with a pair of strikeouts to secure the win for the visitors.
Wheaton returns to the diamond on Tuesday, March 31 when it hosts NEWMAC foe Babson College for its home opener at Sidell Stadium for a 3:30 p.m. first pitch. The Seahawks head to Worcester, Mass. on the same day to take on Worcester Polytechnic Institute at 3:30 p.m. in a league contest.
