Bates Snap Ephs' Six-Game Win Streak
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Bates scored six runs in the sixth to take a 6-2 lead and win in the first game. In game two, the Bobcats manufactured a five-run third inning for a 6-4 win, to sweep Williams.
After four innings of scoreless, defensively sound baseball, the Ephs finally scored in the top of the fifth when sophomore Marco Hernandez singled to lead off the inning. Junior K.C. Murphy bombed a two-run homer over the left field wall to give the Ephs a 2-0 lead.
Senior Harry Marino started game one for the Ephs and held Bates scoreless over four innings, adding nine strikeouts and finally exiting the game with a 2-0 lead.
Bates sophomore Tom Baroni started the game going 6 1/3 innings allowing two runs on six hits.
Despite a 6-2 deficit going into the bottom of the seventh, the Ephs attempted a comeback. Sophomore Matt Kastner led off the bottom of the seventh with a single. After a strikeout, Baroni walked junior Chance Rueger, which prompted a pitching change for Bates. Fellow sophomore Brad Reynolds had his hands full after freshman Luke Pierce drew a two-out walk to load the bases. The Ephs’ comeback was too little, too late as Reynolds struck out the last batter to end the game in favor of the Bobcats, 6-2.
Bates senior Karl Alexander started the second game and extended his team career wins record to 17 by going 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs for his career-best sixth win of the season and a 6-4 record. Sophomore Dean Bonneau allowed one runner to score, but otherwise held the Ephs in check and captured the save.
Williams got on the scoreboard first again, plating three runs in the top of the second. Pierce and Jimmy Ray both singled to get on base for the Ephs. Murphy drew a walk to load the bases for Rueger who brought home Pierce with an RBI groundout to the pitcher. Junior Darren Hartwell slugged a triple to right center scoring both Ray and Murphy, giving Williams a 3-0 lead.
Hartwell led all batters in the second game going 3-for-5 with two RBIs.
Bates answered the third with five runs off of sophomore Steve Marino. Marino tossed three innings in total, allowing five runs on six hits.
Despite the fact that both of these schools are in the NESCAC, they are in two separate divisions within the league. Williams has already clinched a NESCAC playoff berth, as they finished second in the NESCAC West behind archrival Amherst (23-8). As for the NESCAC East, Trinity College (29-9) secured the top seed and hosts the tournament in Hartford, Conn., and Bowdoin College (23-16) earned the second seed.
The Bobcats will finish the season with a game on Wednesday at St. Joseph's College of Maine.
Williams will play the Bantams of Trinity College in the first round of the NESCAC playoffs on Friday, May 11at 3 p.m. The NESCAC playoffs follow a double-elimination format.
