BABSON PARK, Mass.—Junior Brian McHale (Ramsey, N.J.) doubled twice in drove in three runs, while classmate Michael Genaro (Greenwich, Conn.) struck out a season-high eight batters over seven innings as Babson College defeated Springfield College, 6-3, in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) baseball action on Tuesday afternoon at Govoni Field.
With its 11th consecutive win, Babson improves to 18-7 overall and 8-2 in league play. Springfield, which had its four-game winning streak snapped, falls to 17-6-2 overall and 6-3 in the NEWMAC.
Senior David Lennon (Windermere, Fla.) had two hits, including a double, and drove in a run, sophomore Jake Oliger(Newtown, Conn.) was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and classmate Matthew Valente (Wyckoff, N.J.) added a pair of hits for the Beavers. Genaro (5-1) won his third straight decision after giving up three runs and scattering eight hits.
Senior Mark Joao (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) and sophomore Jake Gleason (South Dennis, Mass.) both homered, while junior Brandon Drabinski (Lisbon, Conn.) and sophomore Chad Shade (Pittsfield, Mass.) finished with two hits apiece for the Pride. Senior Joe Gamache (Lebanon, Conn.) started and dropped to 0-1 after giving up five runs on nine hits over 3.2 innings.
Joao hit a two-run homer to left with one out in the top of the first and
Gleason drilled a solo shot to right to give Springfield a 3-1 lead in the top of the second. The Green and White responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame as McHale smacked a two-run double to left and Lennon drove him in with another two-bagger down the left field line to make it 4-3.
The Pride stranded a pair of runners after back-to-back one-out singles in the top of the fourth, and the Beavers extended their advantage to 5-3 in the bottom of the frame when McHale plated Oliger with a one-out double to the opposite field. Babson tacked on another insurance run in the sixth when junior Connor Gill (Sterling, Mass.) scored on a wild pitch, and then let its pitching staff finish off the win.
Genaro retired 11 of the final 13 hitters he faced, sophomore Michael Nocchi (Manasquan, N.J.) worked around a leadoff walk in the eighth, and senior Matt Cuneo (Ashland, Mass.) retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his third save of the spring.
Both teams return to action on Thursday at 3:30 as the Beavers travel to eighth-ranked UMass Boston, while Springfield visits Keene State.
GAME NOTES
• Babson is now 31-22 against the Pride and has won nine consecutive games against Springfield.
• The Beavers have won 16 consecutive games at home, 12 of which have come against NEWMAC foes.
• Senior Mark Webber (Norwell, Mass.) has now hit safely in 13 straight games, Oliger extended his hitting streak to 11 contests, and Lennon has reached base in 14 outings in a row.
• During its 11-game winning streak, Babson has scored six runs or more nine times.