Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score


The Golden Bears, who saw their nine-game win streak come to an end, are now 14-8. The Lyons extended their win streak to five games while improving their record to 20-3.

Game 1 – Wheaton 6, Western New England 1

Junior pitcher Frank Holbrook (Middletown, RI) gave up eight hits and a run in six-and-two-third innings. He walked two and struck out three to move his record to 3-0. Senior David Longley (Brunswick, ME) got the last seven outs allowing only two hits with a walk and three strikeouts for his second save of the season.

Freshman designated hitter Kevin Foley (Southbury, CT) had two singles and three RBI while junior right fielder Sean Ryan (Norton, MA) added a single, double, and run scored.

The Lyons took a 2-0 lead in the first on run-scoring singles by freshman first baseman Apolinar De le Cruz (Providence, RI) and Foley.

The Golden Bears tied the game in the third when sophomore center fielder Jeff Schult (Wappingers Falls, NY) singled with one out, stole second, and came home on a single by sophomore first baseman Steve Ambrosino (Laurel Hollow, NY).

The visitors made it 3-1 in the fourth when senior left fielder John Keating (Duxbury, MA) led-off with a double and came around to score on a ground-out by senior center fielder Hal Landers (Salem, NH).  Although he didn't get a hit in the game, Landers scored a pair of runs.

Wheaton then took advantage of two errors to score three unearned runs in the eighth with a two-out single to right by Foley the key hit.

Western New England finished with 10 hits as junior third baseman Mike Rubino (Northford, CT) enjoyed a perfect 4-for-4 outing at the plate. Junior second baseman Tim Clark (West Springfield, MA) contributed a pair of doubles and made a couple of nice plays in the field.

Junior Kevin Jefferis (Cheshire, CT) (1-3) took the loss after giving up four hits and three runs with five walks and four strikeouts in five innings.

Wheaton stranded 13 runners on base and WNE 10, but the Lyons helped their cause by making four double plays, including three in the first four innings. There also were six players hit by a pitch (three on each team).

Game 2 – Wheaton 2, Western New England 0

Alec Palioca (Wrentham, MA) bested Brendan Nugent (Milford, CT) in a matchup of two top sophomore pitchers. Palioca (4-0) went eight-and-a-third innings permitting six hits with a walk and five strikeouts.

Wheaton scored both its runs in the fifth inning on two-out back-to-back doubles by freshman third baseman Justin Peluso (North Andover, MA) and Landers who finished with a pair of doubles and a single.

Palioca, meanwhile, was cruising along retiring the first 14 batters he faced until junior left fielder Taylor Perun (Plainville, CT) singled with two outs in the fifth.

Palioca had a three-hitter heading into the ninth before Schult and Ambrosino singled to lead-off the inning. Schult (who had two stolen bases in the opener) then started too soon on what appeared to be a steal attempt and Palioca smartly stepped off the mound and got Schult in the ensuing rundown.

Rubino followed with a single to center to again put the tying runs on base, but sophomore reliever Ryan Grant (Easton, MA) entered the game and quickly got the final two outs for his sixth save of the season.

Nugent went eight innings giving up nine hits with a walk and five strikeouts in losing for the first time in five decisions.

Contact: Ken Cerino, Western New England athletic communications director (413) 782-1227
kcerino@wne.edu