PHOENIX, AZ. — After being humbled in the first game of the day, the Williams College baseball team ended Friday on a high note, beating Thomas (Me.) 4-3 with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning of the nightcap.
Williams sits at 6-2 after the day's results. The Ephs play a doubleheader with Gustavus Adolphus Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. EST with Eddie Nadel and Harry Marino scheduled to take the hill.
In the nightcap Friday, The Ephs trailed 3-1 early but scored one run in the third and one in the fourth tie knot the score. The game was scoreless for the next 4 1/2 innings, until the Ephs won it in the bottom of the ninth.
First year Adam Marske ignited the winning rally in the ninth with a lead-off double. Matt Kastner pushed him over to third with a groundout to second, and senior captain James Allison ended the game with a line drive single to left, driving home Marske with the winning run.
Williams had tied the score in the fourth when, with two outs, Kastner singled and scored when Allison roped an RBI-double. Allison finished the game 3 for 5 with two RBI. Cameron Susk was 1 for 1 with two walks and a sacrifice.
First year Steve Marino got the start for Williams, going the first 4 2/3 innings and allowing three hits while walking seven and striking out two. He allowed three runs, two of which were earned. Dan Grossman picked up the win, tossing 4 1/3 innings of shutout relief. He gave up three hits while not walking a batter and striking out three.
In the day's opening game, Williams jumped out to a 2-0 lead but could not quiet the Elmhurst bats and lost 14-4 in a game stopped after eight innings due to a 10-run mercy rule.
In the Ephs' first, Taylor Mondshein led off and reached on an error. Allison followed with a single and, after a fielder's choice, Susk ripped a two-run double. Elmhust scored twice in the second to tie the game, but Marco Hernandez's two-run double in the third regained the lead for Williams at 4-2.
Elmhurst then scored twice in the third and four times in the fourth to build an 8-4 lead.
Sophomore Jimmy Ray got the start and the loss for Williams, hurling the first 3 1/3 innings and allowing seven hits and four walks while striking out two. He was charged with six runs, only three of which were earned. Dan Marcet, Marty Clarke and Tommy Stephens finished up for the Ephs.
Williams had 11 hits in the loss, with Allison, Pat Barren, Susk, Hernandez and Darren Hartwell all collecting two hits each.
