KEENE, N.H. — The Wheaton College (Mass.) baseball team was nipped at Keene State College, 5-4, this afternoon at the Owl Athletic Complex in Keene, N.H.
The Lyons slip to 17-7 on the season, while the Owls improve to 14-11.
Wheaton managed just four hits in the game, but also reached on seven walks. The Lyons left 10 runners on base for the day. Both teams scored single runs in the third, before Wheaton took the lead again with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. Keene State answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 5-3 margin and did not relinquish the lead.
Junior center fielder Robbie Lamond (North Kingstown, Mass.) was 1-4 with a run batted in and two stolen bases for the Lyons. Sophomore shortstop Jeremy Aylward (Hingham, Mass.) contributed with a 1-3 effort and scored a pair of runs to go with a stolen base, while first year left fielder Brayden Lewis (Hopedale, Mass.) was 1-3 with a double, a walk, a run scored and three stolen bases to become the first player in school history to steal three bases in a game on three different occasions. Sophomore reliever Blake Kamoen (Killingworth, Conn.) suffered the loss to drop to 0-1 after giving up three runs on two hits and two walks to go with a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning.
Senior designated hitter Evan Cali (Taunton, Mass.) knocked in a pair of runs on a 1-3 showing for the Owls. Sophomore third baseman Anthony Digiacomo (Marstons Mills, Mass.) was 2-4 with a double and a run batted in and sophomore center fielder Derek Finlay (Nashua, N.H.) was 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Sophomore right-handed reliever Sean Egan (Plainville, Conn.) picked up the win in relief to improve to 1-0, allowing two runs on one hit and four walks in addition to fanning a pair of batters in two and a third innings.
Wheaton got on the board with a run in the top of the third to take a 1-0 edge. Lewis ripped a double down the left field line and later scored on an infield single off the bat of Lamond to give the visitors a one-run lead.
Keene State answered in kind with a run in the bottom of the frame to knot the game with two outs in the inning. First year catcher Jack Harmon (Enfield, Conn.) laced a single up the middle, before stealing second base. Finlay smacked an RBI single through the left side to bring home Harmon with the equalizer.
The Lyons took a 3-1 advantage with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. First year right fielder Derek Babineau Jr. (Scituate, Mass.) opened the inning with a full-count walk, before going to third on a single down the right field line off the bat of Aylward. Aylward stole second base to put both runners into scoring position. First year catcher Alex Vosburgh (Blackstone, Mass.) grounded out to short as Babineau Jr. scampered home to put Wheaton in front at 2-1. Senior Marcus Rodrigues (Lincoln, R.I.) executed a sacrifice bunt later in the frame to plate Aylward and give the Lyons a two-run lead.
The lead was short-lived after the home team scored four times in the bottom of the inning to take a 5-3 margin. The first three batters all reached for the Owls with Finlay hitting a leadoff single up the middle, before junior left fielder Lucas Rogers (Deep River, Conn.) and senior first baseman Jonathan Chatfield (Naugatuck, Conn.) worked back-to-back walks to load the bases with no outs. One out later, sophomore right fielder Domminic Tagliaferro (Bedford, N.H.) grounded out to the pitcher with Finlay scoring on the play. Cali came through with the Owl's biggest hit of the day, knocking in a pair of runs with a single down the right field line to bring both Rogers and Chatfield around to score to give them a 4-3 edge. Digiacomo belted a two-out double down the line to knock in Cali with an important fifth run for Keene State.
The Lyons rallied for a run in the eighth to close within a run, but it was as close as they would get for the game. Wheaton threatened to produce a big inning, loading the bases with no outs. Aylward was hit by a pitch to open the frame, Vosburgh drew a walk and first year shortstop Evan Jones (West Haven, Conn.) reached on a bunt single down the third base line. Rodrigues grounded to short and the Owls took advantage of their two-run lead and elected to trade two outs for a run by turning the double play. First year lefty reliever Evan LeVasseur (Middletown, R.I.) was able to induce a fly out to left field to get out of the inning and limit the damage to just one run. The Lyons were set down in order in the ninth as Levasseur nailed down his first save of the season.
Wheaton returns to the diamond on Tuesday, April 14 when it hosts Emerson College at Sidell Stadium for a 3:30 p.m. first pitch, while Keene State hosts Mitchell College on the same day at 3:00 p.m.
