Salve Regina def. Wheaton, 11-2

NEWPORT, R.I.  – The Salve Regina University baseball team defeated Wheaton College, 11-2, in non-conference action on Thursday evening at Reynolds Field.

Seahawks' freshman starter Cory Poplawski (Syracuse, N.Y./Bishop Ludden) bumped his record to 2-2 overall on the season going 5 2/3 innings, on five hits, two runs (one earned), two walks and three strikeouts.

Wheaton freshman Jack Fant (Independence, Va./McLean) was dealt the loss on four innings pitched, eight hits, seven runs (six earned), two walks and two punchouts.

Salve Regina scored four times in the opening frame as senior Tyler Colby (Easton, Conn./Joel Barlow) notched an RBI single, junior Joe Haley (North Kingstown, R.I./North Kingstown) registered a run-producing double down the left field line and sophomore Ryan Sweenor (South Kingstown, R.I./South Kingstown) capped the scoring with a two-run double to left.

The Lyons answered in the next half inning with a pair of runs to cut into the deficit at 4-2. Freshman Joshua LaJoie (Somers, Conn./Avon Old Farms) plated sophomore Mike Beneduce (North Kingstown, R.I./Moses Brown School) with a sac fly to left field and classmate Jimmy Smith (Worcester, Mass./Saint John's) drove in senior Kevin Foley(Southbury, Conn./Pomperaug) on a ground ball to first.

Salve Regina's pitching staff held Wheaton to just six hits total over the remainder of the contest, while scoring seven runs of their own to secure the win. Sophomore John McDermott (Bedford Hills, N.Y./Fox Lane) gave up one hit over one inning of work and classmate Mike Schuermann (Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side) closed out the final innings for the Seahawks yielding two hits alongside four strikeouts.

Sweenor finished the contest with four hits, including three doubles, and reached base all five trips to the plate. He drove in four and scored one.

"I was really happy with our approach at the plate," commented head coach Eric Cirella. "Guys battled and were tough outs one through nine and that is contagious. On top of that, Cory pitched a heck of a game. He pounded the strike zone and pitched well with a lead. And the bullpen took care of the rest. We are starting to look like the team I envisioned in the fall, now we just need to stay humble and keep working the right way."

Salve Regina (22-11) hosts another non-league opponent, Brandeis University, on Friday (3:30 p.m.) before finishing Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) regular-season schedule at Roger Williams on Saturday (11 a.m.). Wheaton begins play in the NEWMAC tournament as the No. 1 seed.