NEWPORT, R.I. — Junior first baseman Timmy Wagner (Hingham, Mass.) collected three hits, including a late two-run home run, and sophomore starting pitcher Ben Oliveira Somerset, Mass.) allowed two runs on just two hits through six innings to lead the number four seed Wheaton College (Mass.) baseball team over third-seeded Babson College, 5-2, this afternoon in the winner's bracket of the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference Championship Tournament this afternoon at Brother Michael Reynolds Field on the campus of tournament host Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I.
The Lyons have won seven in a row and improve to 24-12 on the season, while the Beavers dip to 27-11.
Wheaton advances to tomorrow's NEWMAC Championship game for the 21st time in school history and has won six straight NEWMAC tournament contests, dating back to last season. Note: Story updated following the Babson/Salve Regina Game. The Lyons will take on Babson tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. in Babson Park, Mass. in the NEWMAC Final.
Wheaton rapped out 11 hits for the game to give it double-digit knocks for the 16th time this season, while its pitching held the Beavers to just two hits through seven and a third innings, before allowing three hits in the final two innings of play. The teams traded runs through the first four innings with the Lyons getting on the board first with a run in the top of the second, only to be matched in the bottom of the frame by Babson. Wheaton reclaimed the margin with a single run in the third, before the Beavers pulled even with a run in the fourth. The Lyons took the lead for good with a run in the sixth, before tacking on two more insurance runs in the eighth.
Wagner was 3-4 with a double, a homer, two runs batted in and a pair of runs scored for Wheaton. Oliveira gave up one earned run and allowed three walks to go with a pair of strikeouts to earn the win and improve to 6-2 on the season. Senior reliever Liam Goldthwaite (Braintree, Mass.) surrendered two hits and fanned a pair of batters in two scoreless innings of work, before junior righty Joe Mulhern (Taunton, Mass.) tossed a perfect ninth inning, including a strikeout to earn his seventh save of the season. Junior designated hitter Kevin Matos (Lawrence, Mass.) also provided offense at the plate, going 2-4 with a double and an RBI, while first year left fielder Shawn Cali (East Taunton, Mass.) was 2-4 with a run batted in and a stolen base.
Graduate student center fielder Luke Tanner (Los Angeles, Calif.) paced Babson at the plate, going 2-5 with a double and junior left fielder Walter Sadowsky (Morristown, N.J.) reached base three times with a hit in two at-bats and a pair of walks. First year starting pitcher Jason Finkelstein (Boston, Mass.) suffered the loss to drop to 8-2 after allowing five runs on nine hits and three walks to go with a pair of strikeouts in seven and a third innings pitched.
The Lyons strung together three straight hits to score the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth to take a 3-2 edge. Senior shortstop Mike Maher (Jefferson, Mass.) singled sharply through the right side, before Wagner belted a ball to the left-center gap to push Maher to third. Wagner looked to take second on the play, but the Beaver left fielder was able to deny him the base for the second out of the inning. Matos came through with a double down the right field line to knock in Maher with Wheaton's third run.
Maher and Wagner were a part of another key frame for the Lyons to give them breathing room heading into the final innings of play. Maher worked a one-out walk in the eighth, before Wagner crushed a pitch into the bullpen over the left field fence to provide Wheaton with a 5-2 lead with his fifth long ball of the year.
Junior first baseman Justin Guest (West Windsor, N.J.) and Sadowsky each singled in the bottom of the inning for the Beavers, but Goldthwaite squelched the threat with a strikeout to end the frame. Mulhern let up a harmless single in the ninth, but induced a pop-up to short to close the game for the Lyons.
Wagner factored in Wheaton's first run as well. The first baseman ripped a shot down the left field line that kicked off the batting cage, enabling Wagner to pull into second with a lead-off double. Cali followed with a single to right center field to send Wagner racing around third base before beating the throw to the plate with the game's first run.
Babson got the run back after loading the bases in the bottom of the inning to make it 1-1. Graduate student designated hitter John Nowak (Pelham, N.Y.) opened the frame with a single to left center, before Guest was hit by a pitch and Sadowsky drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Senior right fielder Luca Rubin (Los Angeles, Calif.) lifted a sacrifice fly to left to drive in Nowak with the game-tying run.
The Lyons used aggressive base running and timely hitting to reclaim the lead with a run in the third. Senior center fielder AJ Guindon (Coventry, R.I.) laced a two-out single into center field, stole second and came around to score when Wensley cracked a single to left to give Wheaton a 2-1 edge.
The Beavers took advantage of an error to knot the game game again with a run in the fourth. Guest was plunked by a pitch to open the inning, before advancing to second on a ground out. Sadowsky ripped a liner to left field that handcuffed the Lyon left fielder and went off the heel of his glove coming in on the drive. Guest scored the equalizer from second on the play.
Babson looked to force the issue and tie the game in the seventh, but its good fortune ran out in the inning. Senior second baseman Tanner Santos (Bethany, Conn.) was hit by a pitch with one out. The Lyons looked like they were out of the inning with a strikeout to quell any thought of a rally, but the pitch got away from the catcher to put runners on first and second with two outs for the Beavers. Wheaton was able to end the threat when first year catcher Tyler Bellan (Franklin, Mass.) threw a strike to third to cut down the would-be base stealer and send the Lyons to the top of the eighth with the one-run lead still intact.