Norton, MA --- Wheaton extended its winning streak to six-straight games as the Lyons defeated WPI 18-2 in Thursday's NEWMAC matchup at Sidell Stadium. Wheaton, who is ranked no.10 overall in the latest D3baseball.com national poll, remains undefeated in NEWMAC play at 8-0 and improves to 14-6 overall. The Engineers are now 9-15 on the season and 4-7 in conference action.
WPI started off strong with hits from freshmen Alex Venditti (Newton, MA) and D.J. Ouellette(Watertown, CT). Sean Kelly (Shrewsbury, MA) singled to right field to plate the first run of the game in the bottom of the opening inning.
The freshmen continued to perform at the plate for WPI as the bats of Vincent Tavernelli(Plymouth, MA) and Anthony Capuano (Stoneham, MA) led to the Engineers' second run and a 2-1 WPI lead. The Crimson and Gray freshmen accounted for nine of twelve hits on the day. Venditti and Ouellette each chipped in two, while five other freshmen tallied a hit.
In the top of the fourth, Wheaton unleashed on the Engineers and posted four hits and four runs. Sean Ryan (Norton, MA) doubled to right center driving in two of his teammates. Apolinar De la Cruz's (Providence, RI) single plated two more runs, and the Lyons took the lead, 4-2.
The sixth inning found Wheaton extending its lead when Ryan drilled another double and De la Cruz singled into left field. Two more Lyon doubles from Tyler Contillo (Montville, CT) and Dan Gusovsky (Andover, MA) extended the Wheaton lead 10-2.
Wheaton stretched the gap again in the seventh with additional hits from Ryan and Gusovsky who combined for five knocks on the day. The Lyons scored five runs on four hits to widen their advantage 15-2.
Frank Holbrook (Middletown, RI) remains undefeated on the mound at 5-0 hauling for six innings today and giving up two earned runs off of 11 hits. WPI's Miles Schuler (Murrieta, CA) took the loos, tossing 5.2 innings, striking out three and giving up seven earned runs off of 11 hits.
The Lyons return to action tomorrow to face Coast Guard, while WPI heads to MIT for the first of a three game series at 3:30pm.