Box Score
AMHERST, MA--The Ephs traveled to Amherst Friday afternoon for a big conference matchup, but the Williams squad fell at the hands of the hard-hitting Lord Jeffs. Two monster innings were more than enough for Amherst to cruise to a 14-2 win. The Lord Jeff's Brian Merrigan scored twice and Jose Espinosa contributed two hits--and those was just in the fifth.
Lefthander Harry Marino got the start for Williams but could not get out of the second inning. After a scoreless first for each club, five Amherst runners crossed the plate on four hits before the inning's second out--the biggest of which came by way of shortstop Bob Cook's three-run homer. Dan Grossman came on in relief for the Ephs and pitched out of the inning.
Grossman made it cleanly through the third and fourth as well, and in the third the Ephs looked to be climbing back into the game. Matt Kastner walked and Steve Maier doubled him around to third with just one out. After a flyout, Cameron Susk singled up the middle, scoring Kastner and Maier and drawing the game to 5-2.
It was as close as the Ephs would get. The home half of the fifth inning began with an innocent flyout to left field, but a never-ending stream of hits and errors broke open the game. In all, nine runs scored on ten hits and three errors. Just four of those runs were earned.
For Amherst, which batted around in the inning, it was more than enough. The big fifth could do little to overshadow the strong start of Max McKenna. McKenna managed a complete game, giving up just four hits and two runs in the effort.
Taiki Kasuga, Cook, and Merrigan each contributed three hits for the home team, which pounded out 19 on the day.
Tom Stephens came on for the final three innings and threw well in relief, giving up just one hit and no runs. The Ephs, though, fell to 2-5 in the NESCAC, and 18-8 overall with the loss. Amherst improves to 16-6 (6-1 NESCAC) in victory.
The two squads square off again Saturday for a doubleheader in Williamstown.
