WORCESTER, Mass. – The Clark University baseball team (18-9, 4-5 NEWMAC) closed out their weekend series against Wheaton (15-11, 7-2 NEWMAC) and battled back to within two runs in the ninth, but were bested 9-7 by the Lyons on Sunday afternoon from Granger Field.
How it Happened
- Wheaton scored five runs in the top of the first sparked by a two-RBI double from Kevin Matos and a three-run homer from Tyler Bellan to left before the Lyons added two more runs in the second.
- Graduate student Ryan Caulfield put the Cougars on the board with an RBI single to left field that plated junior Dom Mariani and Caulfield came around to score on a ball hit by graduate student Anthony LoCasto.
- Graduate student Benjamin Spencer tossed a scoreless third, fourth, and fifth inning before Wheaton plated a pair of runs to extend their lead to 9-2.
- Clark loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth as Mariani tripled and both Caulfield and junior Brayden Hollinrake drew walks, but the Lyons got out of the jam with a forced double play.
- Senior Connor Schmautz tossed a scoreless seventh before the Cougars plated four runs in the bottom of the seventh as senior Carter Doran belted a two-run homer, junior Michael Soares tripled to right center, and Hollinrake drove in a run.
- After two scoreless innings from sophomore Brendan Bruun, Clark scored in the bottom of the ninth off an RBI double from Caulfield that scored Soares, but Wheaton struck out the last batter of the game to win 9-7.
Inside the Box Score
- Caulfield went 2-3 with two RBI's, two walks drawn, and a run scored.
- Doran belted a two-run homer.
- Soares tallied two hits and two runs scored.
- Mariani recorded three hits and scored twice.
- Spencer pitched 4.0 innings and only allowed two runs while striking out four batters.
- Schmautz and Bruun combined to throw three scoreless innings.
What's Next
The Cougars will return to the field on Tuesday when they close out their season series against Salve Regina beginning at 3:30 p.m. from Granger Field.
