SCOTTSDALE, AZ. — Middlebury College built a 13-0 lead Friday and held on to defeat the Williams College baseball team, 13-8, at South Mountain Community College.
Williams fell to 4-8 overall, 0-1 in the NESCAC West Division. Middlebury improved to 6-4 on the year, 1-0 in the conference.
Zach Roeder went 4 for 4 for Middlebury, starting with an RBI-single in the bottom of the first that gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Williams committed four errors that led to a whopping nine unearned runs in the contest, including one in the second that allowed Tyler Wark to score for a 2-0 Panther lead.
It was 3-1 Middlebury when the Panthers exploded for 10 runs in the sixth to take that 13-run lead. The Panthers had eight of their 16 hits in that frame, while Williams committed three of its four errors. Dylan Sinnickison, who was 4 for 5 in the game for the Panthers, had two hits in the inning, an RBI-doubole that got things going, and an RBI-single. Roeder had a two-run single and Matt Wassell a two-run double during the frame.
The Ephs rallied for seven runs in their last two at-bats of the day, but ultimately fell short. In a three-run eighth, Thomas Stephens and Andrew Bishop had RBI-singles. The Ephs had the bases loaded, three runs in and two outs, but Middlebury reliever Eric Truss induced an inning-ending groundout.
In the Ephs' ninth, Luke Pierce led off with a triple and scored on Kirby Neuner's double. Jimmy Ray and Matt Kastner walked to load the bases. Stephens then walked to force in a run. David Webster hit a sacrifice fly to make it 13-7, and an error allowed the final Eph to score before a groundout ended the game.
Darren Hartwell was 2 for 3 for the Ephs. Phil McGovern was 1 for 2 with a solo home run.Steve Marino took the loss for Williams, going 5 2/3 innings and allowing 15 hits and 13 runs, only four of which were earned. He walked three and struck out two. Lucas Casso and Charlie Baxter tossed scoreless innings of relief for the Ephs.
Michael Joseph picked up the win for the Panthers, tossing the first 7 2/3 innings and giving up nine hits and four runs, all earned, while walking three and fanning four.
