Norton, Mass. – Justin Silvestro (Waltham, Mass.) atoned for his two errors in the top of the ninth inning with a walk-off single in the bottom of the frame, lifting host Wheaton College to a 5-4 win over a pesky Clark University squad on Tuesday afternoon in New England Women's And Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) baseball action.

Silvestro singled to right center off of reliever Luke Crocker (Strafford, Vt.), who entered in the top of the inning and allowed a leadoff single to Matt Lavanchy (Walpole, Mass.). An infield error on a ball hit by Joshua LaJoie (Somers, Conn.) put runners on first and second with no outs, setting up Silvestro's heroics.

The Lyons (9-4, 3-0 NEWMAC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first off of starter Conor Walsh (Marstons Mills, Mass.) on a two-out, two-run double by Tyler Contillo (Uncasville, Conn.).

Clark (3-7, 0-1 NEWMAC) sliced the lead in half in the top of the second when Jack Kenney (Saco, Maine) doubled home Matt Asdornvuttikrai (Winchester, Mass.) who led off the inning with a single.

The Cougars evened the game in the third with a little two out magic. Kyle Bonicki (Waterbury, Conn.) singled, stole second and then came around to score on a David Eschen (New York, N.Y.) single to right center.

Wheaton wasted little time regaining the lead when they loaded the bases in the bottom of the third with two outs. First, Silvestro singled and then advanced to third on a double by Apolinar De La Cruz (Providence, R.I.). After Contillo was hit by a pitch, Zachary Goodwin-Boyd (Florence, Mass.) reached on an infield single, scoring Silvestro and then De La Cruz scored on a fielding error on the same play.

The Scarlet and White manufactured another single run in the fourth, when Michael Eglow (Delmar, N.Y.) singled, stole second and came around to score on double down the left field line by James Conway (Newburyport, Mass.).

Ahead 4-3 in the sixth, Wheaton looked poised to tack on an extra run to their lead. Zach Horton (North Attleboro, Mass.) reached on an infield hit and then Walsh plunked Jimmy Smith (Worcester, Mass.), putting runners on first and second. Reliever Patrick Robinson (Watertown, Conn.) then hit Lavanchy to load the bases with one out. He was able to get away unscathed, however, as he induced LaJoie in to hit into an inning-ending 6-4-3 twin killing.

Clark evened the game in the eighth when back-to-back singles by Daniel Lima (Manchester, Conn.) and Eglow was followed by a base hit by Conway, plating Lima with the equalizing run.

The Cougars had an excellent chance in the top of the ninth to go ahead with the help of Silvestro's two miscues. With one out, Clark had runners on first and third. Bonicki then hit a flyout to center that was snared by Smith and he fired home to throw out Teddy Downing (Cambridge, Mass.) at the plate to end the scoring threat in the top of the ninth inning.  

Walsh was effective in his start for the visitors, tossing 5.1 innings and allowing four earned runs on six hits.

Bonicki, Eglow and Conway all went 2-for-4 at the plate for Clark, with Conway leading the way with two RBI.

The two teams will face off again tomorrow in Worcester. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.