WILLIAMSTOWN, MA—Steve Maier had four hits, Patrick Blizzard hit a three-run homer, and Dan Grossman shut the door in relief as the Ephs pulled away late to beat RPI 11-5.
Temperatures climbed into the 80s Tuesday afternoon at Bobby Coombs Field in Williamstown, and the game was a sunny spot in what has been a tough stretch for the home team.
RPI got off to a hot start in the contest, bouncing Eph starter Marty Clarke from the game after just three innings and jumping out to a 5-1 lead. In the bottom of the third, though, the Williams offense came to life. Maier started things off with a bunt single, stole second, and advanced to third on James Allison's single.
Pat Barren hit a sac fly and Blizzard doubled, each scoring one runner. First baseman Andrew Bishop singled and stole second, putting two in scoring position for Jimmy Ray. Ray, who got the start at short, hit a single, scoring Bishop and Blizzard on an error by the second baseman and drawing the squads even at five runs apiece.
Barren added a sac fly in the fourth to put the Ephs ahead, and catcher Chance Reuger got in on the action with a solo homer in the fifth. It was not until Blizzard's next big swing, though, that the Ephs had the game under control.
With Maier on third and Allison on first, Allison swiped second—causing confusion among the RPI defense as Maier scampered home. Barren walked to put two runners on for Blizzard, who bombed one at least 400 feet to left-center that easily cleared the wall and put the Ephs ahead 11-5.
Credit for preserving the win went largely to Grossman, though, who relieved Clarke in the fourth. The right-handed submariner was nearly flawless over four innings of work, yielding just two hits and walking none. He also struck out five in the effort before turning over duties to Matt Berdoff.
Berdoff worked the eight and ninth innings without allowing a hit to close out the win for the Ephs.
Reuger finished with three hits for the Ephs, and Barren finished with three RBIs. Allison was also hit three times in the winning effort.
The Williams squad improved to 19-10 in the win, and takes on Springfield College Thursday.
