May 2, 2018

Babson Downs Roger Williams 11-7, Runs Winning Streak to Eight

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Beavers Match Single-Season Program Record with 29th Victory

BABSON PARK, Mass.—Sophomore Matthew Valente (Wyckoff, N.J.) hit a bases-clearing double in the first and senior Mark Webber (Norwell, Mass.) cranked a three-run homer in the sixth to help Babson College defeat visiting Roger Williams University, 11-7, in non-conference baseball action on Wednesday afternoon at Govoni Field.

Babson, which is third in the NCAA regional rankings, improves to 29-10 overall and matches last year's program for wins in a season, while Roger Williams slips to 19-19 overall.

Webber finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored, while Valente, senior David Lennon (Windermere, Fla.) and sophomore Sean Harrington (Walpole, Mass.) all recorded two hits apiece. Junior Brian McHale (Ramsey, N.J.) walked three times, drove in a run and scored once for the Beavers.

First-year Peter Feinman (Virginia Beach, Va.) earned a no-decision in his first career start after giving up three runs on six hits while striking out four in five innings. Classmate Ben Aleixo (North Smithfield, R.I.) worked an inning of relief to pick up the win and improve to 2-1 for Babson.

First-year Dean DePrata (Stamford, Conn.) was 2-for-3 with a three-run homer, while classmate Tyler Cedeno (Maynard, Mass.) singled and drove in a pair for the Hawks. Senior Mike Cardelle (Duxbury, Mass.) started and gave up three runs in the first, while first-year Brett Gauvin (Norton, Mass.) suffered the loss to fall to 0-2 on the year.

Junior Edward Lehr (Byram Township, N.J.) and Harrington sandwiched walks around a single by Webber before Valente drove them all in with a double that rolled all the way to the wall in left center for a 3-0 lead. Feinman issued a pair of walks and gave up two singles in the second, but Roger Williams pushed across just one run and left the bases loaded.

Trailing 4-1 in the sixth, the Hawks got a two-run, pinch-hit single from Cedeno and then tied the game when sophomore Joey Gulino (Meriden, Conn.) raced home as the Beavers tried to throw Cedeno out stealing second. Babson wasted little time going back in front with five runs in the bottom of the frame.

McHale drove in junior Eric Jaun (Loveland, Ohio) with a sacrifice fly to make it 5-4, senior Ryan Arena (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) reached on a two-out error that Lennon to score and Webber followed with a three-run blast to right field to extend the margin to 9-4.

Roger Williams pulled within 9-7 on DePreta's three-run blast to left center in the seventh, but Harrington blooped a single into left with two outs in the eighth to drive in Lehr and McHale with a pair of insurance runs. First-year Tyler Bell (Abington, Mass.) struck out the side in the ninth to close out the victory.

Babson returns to action on Friday when it hosts either MIT or Springfield to begin NEWMAC Tournament play at 3:30 p.m.

GAME NOTES
• The Beavers are now 5-3 all-time against Roger Willams.
• Babson's 29 wins are the most prior to the postseason in school history.
• Webber and Arena both extended their hitting streaks to seven.
• The Beavers have won 19 of their last 20 games at Govoni Field going back to April 22, 2017.