PHOENIX, AZ. — Led by the strong pitching
of Paul Burgdorf and Ben Horwitz, the Williams College baseball
team finished off a three-game sweep of NESCAC West Division rival
Middlebury with 11-6 and 9-2 victories over the Panthers Saturday,
running its win streak to six games.
After losing their first five games of the season, the two wins
Saturday moved the Ephs to 6-5 overall, 3-0 in the conference.
Williams is off tomorrow before playing Thomas College Monday at 3
p.m. MST.
In Saturday's first game, Williams fell behind 1-0 in the top of
the first before scoring twice in its half to take a 2-1 lead. The
Ephs added one in the second and then exploded for six runs in the
third to put the game out of reach.
Burgdorf cruised through five innings, allowing only one run. He
finished with a complete game, throwing seven innings, allowing 11
hits, walking two and striking out six. Five of the six runs he
allowed were earned.
First year Stephen Maier led the hit parade by going 3 for 4
with two RBI. Zach Stone was 2 for 3, Robin Allemand was 1 for 2
with two RBI, Al Mathews went 1 for 4 with two RBI and Ben Oliva
scored three times.
In the big third inning, Pat Barren sparked the uprising with a
lead-off double. Chad Brown drew a walk and a Cameron Susk
groundout advanced the runners to second and third. Stone was
intentionally walked, and James Allison followed with a sacrifice
fly to center field. Oliva then smacked an RBI-single and Maier
followed with a two-run single. Allemand drew another walk, and a
Mathews grounder resulted in a two-run error that left the Ephs
leading 9-1.
Williams fell behind 1-0 in the nightcap as well, but a four-run
second inning put them up for good. Lefty Horwitz allowed only
single runs in the first and fourth, tossing 6 1/3 innings and
giving up nine hits and two walks while striking out four. Both
runs he allowed were earned.
First-year Harry Marino finished up nicely, allowing one hit
over 2 2/3 innings. He did not walk a batter and fanned four.
Mathews led the way at the dish, going 3 for 4 with a double and
three RBI. James Allison was 2 for 4 and Allemand 2 for 3 in the
win.
Susk ignited the four-run second with a lead-off single. After
Stone flew out, James Allison singled. Oliva followed with an
RBI-single. After an error on a foul pop allowed the frame to
continue, Maier ripped an RBI-single and stole second. Allemand
walked and Mathews lined an RBI-single to left. The ball skipped
past the left fielder on the play, allowing Allemand to score all
the way from first to give Williams a 4-1 lead.
