NORTON, Mass. — First year shortstop Evan Jones (West Haven, Conn.) knocked in three runs to help the Wheaton College (Mass.) baseball team to a 6-3 victory over visiting Western New England University this afternoon at Sidell Stadium on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.
The Lyons have won four of their last five and improve to 15-6, while the Golden Bears fall to 10-15.
Wheaton never trailed in the game and left just six runners on base. The Lyons scored three runs in the first two innings, before Western New England scored single runs in the third and fourth innings to make it a one-run game. Wheaton tacked on three insurance runs with a run in the sixth and two more in the eighth.
Jones was 1-2 with a sacrifice fly for the Lyons, while sophomore second baseman Logan Downey (Warwick, R.I.) was 2-3 with a double, a stolen base and a pair of runs scored. First year left fielder Brayden Lewis (Hopedale, Mass.) was 1-2 with a triple and a run scored. Sophomore starting pitcher Jack Ritchie (Raynham, Mass.) earned the victory as the opener, hurling four innings, while allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and no walks to go with six strikeouts. Senior southpaw Josh Fischer (Plymouth, Mass.) picked up his second save of the year with a four-out save, allowing a run on a hit, while fanning three batters.
Junior center fielder Jack Gamache (Northborough, Mass.) was 2-4 with a run batted in and a run scored for the Golden Bears. Junior catcher Antonio Galizia (Brewster, N.Y.) collected two hits in four at-bats and junior first baseman Corey Kilroy (Walpole, Mass.) and first year shortstop Tyler Waterbury (Danbury, Conn.) each knocked in a run. Senior starting pitcher Lucas Kamoen (Killingworth, Conn.) was saddled with the loss and dropped to 1-2 after giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits and struck out a batter.
Wheaton got on the board in the first inning when Lewis legged out a triple to right-center field and scored on a ground out to third by senior first baseman Collin Reilly (Marshfield, Mass.). The Lyons added two more runs in the bottom of the second with just one hit after taking advantage of an error and a wild pitch. Downey reached on an infield single to open the frame, before sophomore right fielder Declan Lush (Seekonk, Mass.) reached on an infield error. Both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch to set up an RBI ground out to second from senior third baseman Ray Toth (Granby, Mass.). Jones hit a sacrifice fly to center to bring home Wheaton's third run of the game.
Western New England got a run back in the third to cut the deficit to 3-1. Gamache punched a leadoff single to center field and later scored on a two-out single to left field off the bat of Kilroy to crack the scoring column. The Golden Bears added its second run with two outs in the fourth to pull within 3-2. Senior designated hitter Alex Grenier (Somers, Conn.) reached on an infield error, before Galizia laced a single through the left side. Gamache followed with another single through the left side of the infield to plate Grenier with the visitors' second run.
The Lyons did some damage of their own with two outs, scoring a run in the sixth to double their margin. Lush reached on an infield single, stole second and scored on a Jones single through the left side to make it 4-2.
Wheaton took advantage of two errors in the bottom of the eighth to add a pair of insurance runs to take a 6-2 advantage. Junior center fielder Robbie Lamond (North Kingstown, R.I.) ripped a double down the left field line to open the inning, before Downey reached on a sacrifice bunt after the throw was wide of the mark at first, allowing Lamond to score. Downey eventually advanced to third on a failed back pick to second, before scoring on a Jones sacrifice bunt to give the Lyons a four-run cushion.
Western New England rallied for a run in the ninth, but it wasn't enough as Wheaton came away with the victory. Junior second baseman Tyler Kornacki (North Haven, Conn.) was hit by a pitch to open the frame, before senior right fielder Ryan Montini (Prospect, Conn.) doubled to left field to put both runners in scoring position. Waterbury hit a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Kornack with the final run of the day.
Wheaton returns to the diamond on Saturday, April 11 when it hosts Worcester Polytechnic Institute for a New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference doubleheader at 12:00 p.m., while the Golden Bears host Johnson & Wales University on the same day and time for a Conference of New England twinbill.
