Seahawks best #25 Wheaton in 8-6 comeback

NEWPORT, R.I. – The Salve Regina University baseball team kicked off its five-game homestand by topping the 25th ranked team in the nation, Wheaton College, by a score of 8-6 in a non-conference match-up on Thursday afternoon at Brother Reynolds Field.

With the win Salve Regina now holds a 5-3 advantage in the all-time series, winning five straight since 2002.

Wheaton centerfielder Nick Raposo (Johnson, R.I.) kicked off the Lyons bats with a three-run homer to left field in the first inning, bringing in teammates Brody Ashley (Strafford, N.H.)  and Jacob Studley (Barrington, R.I.).

The Seahawks responded quickly in the bottom of the first frame with two runs on two hits, then took the lead in the third inning on back-to-back hits from Jack Betts (Narragansett, R.I.) and Tristan Dacey (Wyckoff, N.J.).

In the bottom of the fourth Dylan Ketch (Clinton, Conn.) struck for his second double off the afternoon to score Madden Ward (Clinton, Conn.) and it was a 5-3 Seahawks advantage.

The Lyons however got one run back in the top of the fifth and two more in the top of the sixth to retake the lead, 6-5.

Ketch continued to stay hot in the bottom of the sixth, registering his third hit of the afternoon to once again drive in Madden Ward and the game was tied.

After a scoreless seventh, Tyler Hertzwig (Port Washington, N.Y.) held the Lyons in check in the top of the eighth and the Seahawks bats went to work in the bottom of the inning. Ketch knocked his fourth hit of the day, then Zack Smith (New Cannan, Conn.) singled to put runners at the corners. Betts then reached on a fielder's choice to score Ketch, then Betts himself later scored on a Michael DeFusco (East Greenwich, R.I.) base hit to give the Seahawks some insurance and an 8-6 lead.

In the ninth the Seahawks turned to senior Brett Wilkes (Franklin Lanes, N.J.) who struck out two in the final inning to seal the deal for the Seahawks second win in two days.

Junior captain Dylan Ketch led the offensive effort for the Seahawks by hitting his terrible twos as he went four for four at the plate collecting two RBIs, scoring two runs, and hitting two doubles on the day.

The Lyons' offensive front was contributed to by right fielder Jacob Studley, second baseman George Mulcahy (Brooklyn, N.Y.), and shortstop Stephen Quigley (Halifax, Mass.) all recorded RBIs. Mulcahy and Quigley drove their runs in at the top of the 6th inning to put the Lyons back on top before Salve tied the game in their next at bat.

The Seahawks starting pitcher Zach Lopez (New Canaan, Conn.) struck out three batters in five and a third innings before being relieved. The combination of Holden Ferari (Dover, Mass.), Kyle Brown (Point Lookout, N.Y.), and Hertzwig, who picked up the win, were able to pitch scoreless innings to set up Wilkes for his first save of the year.

Joe Bongiovanni (Johnston, R.I.) got the start for the Lyons and went four innings, yielding five runs on six hits with no strikeouts and two walks. Zach Pipa (Rumford, R.I.) pitched an inning and a third, surrendering the game-tying run before Zach Clesas (Johnston, R.I.) came on for an inning and two thirds of scoreless ball. Patrick Arter (Lakeville, Mass.) pitched the eighth and took the loss to fall to 0-2 on the year after allowing two runs on three hits. He did however record the only strikeout of the day for the Lyons.

Salve Regina (12-7, 3-1 CCC) will get back into Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play against Roger Williams this Friday, April 5, at 3:30 p.m., at Reynolds Field. Wheaton (15-5) will return home to host Babson at 3:30 p.m.