WORCESTER, Mass. – Graduate student Steven Mooney belted a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 12th as the Clark University baseball team (11-8, 2-4 NEWMAC) recorded a thrilling 7-6 victory over Wheaton (12-9, 4-2 NEWMAC) on Tuesday afternoon from Granger Field.  

How It Happened

• Sophomore Maxwell Gitlin took the mound for Clark and retired the side in order and in the bottom of the first, junior Connor Rulnick belted a two-run homer to left center that scored first-year Carter Doran as Clark led 2-0 after one inning.
• Gitlin allowed no runs in the second, third, fourth inning and Clark had three base runners in what was a pitcher's duel before the Lyons plated four runs in the top of the fifth.
• The Cougars got a pair of runners on base in the bottom of the fifth, but they were unable to score and graduate student Chris Radovic got Clark back within one of the lead in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI double that scored sophomore Samuel Farrell as Clark trailed 4-3.
• First-year CJ Johnson came in as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the eighth and launched a homer to left field to tie the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth.
• Senior Kevin Irwin tossed a scoreless top of the ninth and junior Ryan Caulfield reached second base, but was left on base as the game headed to extras.
• Sophomore Heath Cockburn struck out three batters in the top of the 10th and Clark had runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom half of the inning, but both runners were left on base.
• Wheaton plated two runs in the top of the 11th, but the Cougars answered with two runs of their own when Doran reached first and Farrell belted a two-run homer to tie the game back up at 6-6.
• Sophomore Andres Hulfachor set the Lyons down in order in the top of the 12th, Mooney belted a homer to left center in the bottom of the 12th as Clark recorded a 7-6 win.

Inside the Box Score

• Gitlin tossed 8.0 innings, struck out six batters, and only allowed four runs.
• Farrell went 2-2 with two RBI's and two runs scored.
• Rulnick, Johnson, and Mooney also homered in the game.
• Hulfachor's win was his second of the season on the mound.
• The Cougars recorded 13 hits in the game and drew six walks.

What's Next

Clark will return to play tomorrow afternoon when they welcome Worcester State to Granger for a game beginning at 3:00 p.m.