DOVER, Del. – Sam Farnell drove in seven runs to lead the Wesley College baseball team to an 18-3 victory over Maine-Presque Isle on Monday afternoon at Bob Reed Field. The Wolverines are now 15-7 on the season.
Farnell went 3-5 with three runs scored, a double and a grand slam home run in the fourth inning. His seven RBIs are the most by a Wesley player since Bryan Reshetar drove in seven runs against Polytechnic (N.Y.) on March 8, 2009.
Wesley collected 18 hits on the day, led by Farnell's three. Rob Benedict, Jon Carlson, Geoff Kimmel and Greg McKee all collected multiple base hits on the day and every starter reached base and scored at least once. Benedict and Carlson also combined for seven runs while Reshetar and McKee scored twice.
After allowing a run in the first, Wesley started its onslaught with two runs in its half of the inning on RBIs by Farnell and Kimmel.
A ten-run third inning by the Wolverines put the game out of reach as Farnell started it all with a two-run double. Farnell later scored on a wild pitch before McKee and Matt Robles drove in runs. With the bases loaded, Robert Varvaro drove in a couple with a single and Carlson cleared the bases with a double to cap the scoring.
The Wolverines were not done there as they tacked on five more in the fourth with a fielder's choice RBI off the bat of Benedict and the bases-loaded home run by Farnell.
With Wesley holding a 17-2 lead after five innings, head coach Bret Underwood cleared his bench as Cory Smith, Tyler Hunter (1-for-2), Rich Lober (1-2, RBI), Chris Tserkis and Adam Darling (1-for-1) all entered the game.
Tommy Reapsome, who started on the mound for Wesley, got through the first six innings while allowing just one earned run and striking out three for his first career win.
Farnell got the sixth inning started for the Wolverines, who added another run in the frame, by reaching on an error. After Kimmel singled, Lober drove in Farnell with an RBI single.
Brad Walker then pitched the seventh inning for the Wolverines and allowed a run before giving way to Kenneth Klouser and Scott Dodds. Both freshman pitchers went one inning in their collegiate debuts without allowing a run.
In the Wesley half of the seventh, DJ Keckler made a rare plate appearance and collected his first career base hit.
Also making his first collegiate appearance was Shane Muller, who entered the game in the eighth as a defensive replacement. Conner Gobright also made his first appearance behind the plate for Wesley in the seventh inning.
Following today's victory, Wesley hits the Nation's Capital for a 1:00 pm doubleheader at Gallaudet on March 28.