No. 18 Lyons Nip Golden Bears, 7-6

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (April 16, 2023) – The Western New England baseball team dropped a close 7-6 contest to the No. 18 ranked Lyons of Wheaton College on Sunday afternoon, pumping out nine hits in the process. 

Records:

• Western New England: 17-7-2 
• No. 18 Wheaton College: 24-4

Pitching Records:

W: Benjamin Oliveira: 3-0

L: Jacob Hobart: 3-2

How it Happened:
Western New England starter Jacob Hobart would lock down the 18^th ranked team in Division III through the first two innings of the game before surrendering two runs in the top of the third, the first two runs of the game. Wheaton's Matt Maher would produce an RBI single to left field while Cavan Brady would rip a single of his own, getting an RBI to give the Lyons a 2-0 lead. Wheaton would double their lead with one swing of the bat in the top of the fourth inning when Nick Giangregorio went yard to left field, sending his first home run of the season over the left field fence to give Wheaton a 4-0 lead. 

Western New England would score their first run in the bottom of the fourth inning after both Sean Jamieson and Jake Loftus were issued walks while Jake Gerraughty would help WNE with an RBI single to center field to get the Golden Bears on the score board. Wheaton would tack two more runs on the board through the sixth inning after Kevin Matos and Nick Giangregorio would grab RBIs for the Lyons, giving Wheaton a 6-1 lead. 

Western New England would find their bats in the bottom of the sixth inning and would rally for four runs to get back in the game. After an error by Wheaton, WNE would take advantage when Cody Waterbury would score on a wild pitch while also moving over Jack Loftus and Sean Jamieson one base each. Aaron Cole would draw a bases loaded walk to give WNE a 6-3 deficit. John Bova would contribute with a sacrifice fly to right field to score Jake Gerraughty, giving WNE a 6-4 lead. Paul Villecco would cap off the hit parade for WNE, sending a single up the middle, scoring Kohtaro Shimada, giving WNE a 6-5 deficit. The Golden Bears would score four runs on three hits while leaving two on base. 

Wheaton added insurance in the top of the eighth after Nick Giangregorio scored his third run of the game, this time on a wild pitch to put Wheaton ahead 7-5. WNE would answer, scoring a run on an RBI ground out by John Bova in the bottom of the inning, giving WNE just the one run deficit. In the ninth, Cody Waterbury would begin a rally with a one out single up the middle but that was short lived as a double play from Wheaton would conclude the contest, sending No. 18 Wheaton over WNE, 7-6. 

Inside the Box Score:

• Jake Gerraughty produced three hits for the Golden Bears, collecting an RBI. Paul Villecco and Cody Waterbury collected two hits each. 
• WNE used six pitchers in the game, with starting pitcher Jacob Hobart going four innings while giving up six hits and four runs while walking one and striking out two. Sean Hogan, Alex Slezak, Aidan Gowaski, Demitri Boulas, and Troy Donohue finished the game by throwing one inning each. 
• WNE falls to 6-2-1 at home on the season and 0-2-1 in their last three games after starting out 6-0. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE stays out of conference, heading to Rhode Island College on Thursday, April 20 at 3:30 PM.