Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--Apolinar De La Cruz hit a two-run homer to help key a 5-1 non-conference baseball win for Wheaton (Mass.) over host Western New England on Thursday at Pat Ricci Field at Trelease Park. The Lyons improve to 19-7 overall while the Golden Bears fall to 11-13 on the season.

Juniors Eduardo Colmenares and Connor Hayes led Western New England with two hits apiece.

The Lyons scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning to break open a close game, 2-1. Matt Lavanchy, who went 2-for-4, had a two-run single to right field and Justin Peluso followed with a RBI-single to the same spot.

Starting pitcher Dan Southerland (3-1) went six innings to get the win, allowing an unearned run, three hits and two walks while striking out six. The bullpen of Jimmy Gowen, Eric Dumas and Mike Bisceglia combined for four strikeouts and shut out the Golden Bears for the last three innings.

Western New England got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third when Hayes tripled in the right center gap, bringing home junior Scott Hubener who had reached on an error. But Wheaton grabbed a 2-1 lead in the fourth as De La Cruz homered down the right field line after Justin Silvestro had a leadoff single.

Junior Chris Casey made his first career start on the mound for the Golden Bears. On April 13, he earned his first career win in relief versus Salve Regina.

Both teams left eight runners on base.

Western New England returns to Commonwealth Coast Conference action at noon Saturday when it travels to Milton to take on second-place Curry College.

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