YORK, Pa. – Freshman pitchers Rob Diamond and Eric Willey combined to give up no earned runs and just five hits as the Wesley College baseball team defeated York (Pa.), 5-1, on Sunday afternoon in the rubber game of a Capital Athletic Conference series at Jaquet Field. After taking two games from the Spartans over the weekend, the Wolverines are now 13-5 overall and 4-2 in the CAC while the Spartans fall to 7-9 on the year and 1-5 in league play.
Diamond (2-1) got the start for Wesley and allowed just four hits and an unearned run while fanning three in six innings. Willey relieved Diamond to start the seventh and earned the save, giving up just one hit over the final three frames.
York took a 1-0 lead in the second inning as a fielding error allowed Justin Cohen to reach base. After a groundout and a single, Cohen scored what would be the Spartans' lone run of the game.
Thanks to three hits, an YCP throwing error, three walks and two batters getting plunked, the Wolverines scored five runs in the top of the sixth. Morgan Rupp started the rally with a double to left field and advanced to third on a single by Sam Farnell. Steve Perone drove in Rupp with a single to right to tie the score and keeping two runners on. Conner Gobright was then the first of three-straight Wolverines to be issued a free pass which made the score 3-1 in favor of Wesley.
With the top of the order now up with one out and the bases still loaded, Cory Smith flew out to second base, but the throw in was wild and allowed Gobright to score from third. Jon Carlson was then hit by a pitch to reload the bases and Rupp was also plunked to bring in another run.
In his final inning of work, Diamond escaped some minor trouble allowing a leadoff walk and a single. However, a ground ball to Farnell at third was converted into a double play and Diamond fanned Cohen looking to end his day.
Willey recorded 1-2-3 innings in both the seventh and eighth innings, but after allowing a leadoff single in the ninth, retired the final three hitters.
Smith and Perone had multi-hit days for the Wolverines and Matt Robles walked twice to reach safely twice.
The Wolverines are back on the diamond on Monday, March 25, when they travel to take on No. 11 Shenandoah, at 4 pm. Wesley and the Hornets met last season in Winchester, with the Wolverines earning a 15-6 victory over the 17th-ranked team in the Nation.