March 15, 2013

#3 Wheaton Walks Off Against Montclair State

More news about: Wheaton (Mass.)

Holbrook strikes out eight in no-decision 

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Senior captain Dan Gusovsky (Andover, Mass./Andover) lifted Wheaton College, ranked no.3 overall in the latest D3baseball.com national poll, to a 2-1 victory over Montclair State University with a walk-off double to deep right field in non-conference action on Friday afternoon. 

Sophomore first baseman Apolinar De la Cruz (Providence, R.I./Classical) led off the bottom of the ninth with a hard-hit single into right field and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt from third baseman Justin Peluso (North Andover, Mass./Saint John's Prep). After the Red Hawks decided to go to the bullpen, Gusovsky belted a one-hopper off of the right field fence for the win. 

Senior right-handed pitcher Frank Holbrook (Middletown, R.I./Portsmouth Abbey School) was saddled with a no-decision on eight innings, three hits, one run (unearned), one walk and a game-high eight strikeouts (six looking). Freshman Eric Dumas (Brookline, Mass./Brookline) earned his first-career collegiate win with a clean ninth inning on a ground out and a pair of fly outs. 

Montclair State left-hander Dylan Papa (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) took the loss on eight-and-one-thirds, eight hits, two runs (one earned), one walk and five strikeouts. Senior reliever Josh Manto (Kenilworth, N.J./David Brearley) gave up the game winning hit to Gusovsky in the ninth. 

Wheaton took a 1-0 lead in the third as sophomore Kevin Foley (Southbury, Conn./Pomperaug) reached first base on a bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error. Classmate Zach Bombard (Belchertown, Mass./Cathedral) followed with a bunt single towards the first base line to put runners on the corners for the Lyons. After a double play on a lineout (4-3), senior co-captain and shortstop Eric Jensen (Gorham, N.H./Gorham) beat out an infield single to plate Foley from third. 

In the fifth, senior catcher Scott Glozzy (Hackettstown, N.J./Warren Hills) ripped a double to left-center field with one out putting a Red Hawks' baserunner into scoring position for the first time in the game. Holbrook quickly erased the scoring threat as he picked off Glozzy at second with help from Jensen who applied the tag. Holbrook's pick off proved to be pivotal as junior Lou Martini (Flemington, N.J./North Hunterdon) single to shallow center field in the next at-bat. Sophomore Anderson Rosa (Perth Amboy, N.J./Perth Amboy) flied out to center to end the frame. 

Montclair State pushed across its only run in the sixth on a throwing error. Senior Matt Moreno (Park Ridge, N.J./Park Ridge) worked a leadoff walk, advance to second on a sacrifice bunt and came around to score on a throwing error that sailed just over the glove of Wheaton's first baseman. 

Wheaton (4-3, 0-0 NEWMAC) takes on #2 Marietta College in a rematch of last season's NCAA Division III College World Series national championship game tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. Montclair State (5-3), who is receiving votes in the D3baseball.com Top-25 national poll, hosts Moravian College on Wednesday, March 20 at 3:30 p.m.