Norton, MA --- #21 Wheaton swept a doubleheader against the WPI baseball team on Sunday afternoon at Sidell Stadium as both teams opened NEWMAC play. The Lyons, playing as the visiting team at home due to rain on Saturday, took game one 11-1 and won a marathon 5-2 game in the nightcap that went 15 innings.
The nationally ranked and defending NEWMAC Champion Lyons, improve to 15-3 (2-0) overall, while WPI dips to 10-9, starting 0-2 in conference play.
Wheaton's Kevin Matos (Lawrence, MA) finished the day with 8 RBI, including seven in game one where he belted a pair of homers, one a grand slam. Cavan Brady (Sheffield, MA) had three RBI between both games, while AJ Guindon (Coventry, RI) finished with four hits on the day.
Ryan McCarroll (Clifton Park, NY) got the game-one win, throwing a seven-inning complete game, while striking out five and allowing six hits and no earned runs. Max Pierce (Scituate, RI) was the game-two winner, going four innings without allowing a run or a hit and striking out six. Jackson Walsh (Cumberland, RI) picked up the save, tossing the scoreless 15th inning.
For WPI, Jeffrey Brennan (Amsterdam, NY) collected four hits and an RBI between the two games, while Andrew Cash (Marlboro, MA), Jonathan Lattimer (Windsor, CT), and Jack Zawacki (Pittsford, NY) all had two hits apiece.
Game One
Led by a monster seven RBI game from Matos, Wheaton scored 11 runs in the first four innings en route to a lopsided 11-1 victory in game one.
A six-run first inning set the tone of the game for Wheaton with the big hit in the frame a grand slam off the bat of Matos. Cavan Brady (Sheffield, MA) singled in a pair of runs, while Robert Wirtanen (Brentwood, NH) also added an RBI, as the Lyons benefited from two walks and a WPI error in the fame.
In the top of the second, a lead-off single and a stolen base from AJ Guindon (Coventry, RI) was driven home by Wirtanen to make it 7-0. Guindon added an RBI triple in the top of the third, pushing the score to 8-0.
Wheaton made it an 11-0 game in the top of the third, with a Brady walk and a Wirtanen single setting up Matos once again, who launched a three-run shot to right field.
WPI got on the board with three hits in the bottom of the fourth, but it was an error that pushed the run across. Brennan, Kyle Johns (Milltown, NJ), and Andrew Cash (Marlboro, MA) singled to load the bases with two outs, and a DJ Brooks (Danvers, MA) ball was mishandled by Wheaton allowing Brennan to score to make it 11-1.
Neither team managed much more offense in the final three innings, as Wheaton finished out the 11-1 victory with a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh.
Game Two
A marathon game came down to a big 15th inning for Wheaton, as Nick Croteau (Cumberland, RI) notched a two-out double to plate the winning runs for the Lyons.
WPI scored first, going up 1-0 in the bottom of the first as a two-out single from Brennan was doubled home by Johns.
Wheaton scored a pair in the top of the third using three hits to take a 2-1 lead. Brandy and Wirtanen singled to put two on for Matos who doubled to center to score Brady. Wirtanen then scored on a wild pitch before the Engineers forced two groundouts to end the frame.
WPI tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth. Jacob Hand (Niskayuna, NY) started the rally with a one-out double and he was sent home on a two-out Brennan single to center. Wheaton's Zach Clesas (Johnston, RI) got the final batter of the frame on a strikeout to end the threat.
In the bottom of the seventh, Gavin George (Salem, NH) and Lattimer collected two-out singles putting runners on first and third, but a groundout ended the inning, sending it to extras.
WPI worked around a single and two walks in the top of the eighth, getting a double play and a strikeout to keep it a 2-2 game. Same story in the bottom of the frame where the Engineers had runners on second and third but Wheaton got a strikeout to send the game to the ninth.
Wheaton left runners on in the top of the 11th and 13th innings, but again the Engineers worked around hits, keeping it 2-2.
Finally, in the top of the 15th, the Lyons broke the scoreless drought. Marcus Ollivierre (Milton, MA) and AJ Guindon (Coventry, RI) singled putting two on with two outs. Croteau then broke the tie with a double down the right field line plating two, making it 4-2 Wheaton. Brady singled to center to score Croteau to add an insurance run before WPI got out of the inning.
In the bottom of the 15th, Lattimer had a one-out single but was erased on a double play, giving Wheaton the final out needed to sweep the series.
Both teams continue NEWMAC play on Wednesday at 3:30. WPI plays Emerson at the New England Baseball Complex, while Wheaton heads to Clark.