Waterville, Maine - Junior OF Michael Rueger (Teaneck, N.J.) hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning break a scoreless game and lift the visiting Trinity College Bantams to a 7-5 win over the Colby College Mulesin New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) East Division baseball action this afternoon at Coombs Field. The Bantams move to 12-5 overall and 1-0 in the league, while the Mules fall to 7-6 overall and 0-1 in the conference. The same teams meet for a doubleheader on Coombs Field on Saturday at noon.
Colby starting pitcher Brady Hesslein (Newton, Mass.) was strong through four innings and got the first two batters out in the fifth. Bantam freshman Connor (Fairfield, Conn.) had a single and Rueger followed with his homer for a 2-0 margin. The Mules recovered one of the runs in the bottom of the fifth when first-year outfielder Jason Buco (Methuen, Mass.) homered to lead off the inning.
Trinity added two more runs in the sixth inning on an RBI single from senior C Luke Auger (Avon, Conn.) to bring in rookie Bryan Wolfe (La Habra Heights, Calif.) and a sacrifice fly by senior David Casanova (Bristol, Conn.) that brought in junior 3B Stephen Rogers (Watertown, Mass.). The Bantams made it 5-2 with a lone run in the seventh inning. Rueger led off with a single and eventually scored on an RBI groundout by senior tri-captain 1B Kevin Mortimer (Spencer, Mass.). Buco scored the second of his three runs when he led off the seventh inning with a walk and later scored on a Trinity error.
Both teams managed two runs in the eighth inning for a 7-4 game. Trinity freshman 2B Kyle Decker (Simsbury, Conn.) scored from third base on a wild pitch and Sullivan had an RBI single. The Mules answered with an RBI single from Nathan Ellis (Milton, Mass.) to bring in Luke Duncklee (Augusta, Maine) and Buco stole home for the other score. Colby had the tying run at the plate in the ninth inning, but managed just one run. Nik Atsalis (West Hyannis Port, Mass.) led off with a double and went to third on a wild pitch. After a walk to Brendan Gallagher (Dublin, N.H.), Mike Mastrocola (Southbury, Conn.) had a sacrifice fly to left field to bring in Atsalis for the final run of the game.
Robert Gau (Westport, Conn.) pitched the first three innings for Trinity. Ben Goldberg (Plainview, N.Y.) started the fourth inning and earned his third win of the season. Hesslein finished with five strikeouts and one walk in his seven innings of work. Rueger had three hits, two runs, and two RBI to pace the Bantams. Wolfe, Auger, and Sullivan each had a pair of hits. Buco walked twice to go along with his home run.