WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. --- Williams returned to action Tuesday night after an emotional weekend when they swept Wesleyan University to bounce back in to NESCAC playoff contention.
"We lacked the emotion that we played with this past weekend," stated coach Bill Barrale with regards to a 14-6 loss to Western New England University (20-9). "You can't win when you give up 20 hits," he added thinking about the most recent game where a good Western New England team pounded twenty hits en route to winning their twentieth game of the season.
In the top of the first, sophomore Jeff Schult smacked a grounder down the third base line and advanced to second base on the play due to a throwing error. Junior Mike Rubino drove him in with a double down the left field line off of freshman Jacob Slater who threw four innings allowing nine hits while giving up seven runs earning two of them. Slater added a strikeout and a walk to his performance on the day.
The score stayed manageable until the top of the fourth when the Golden Bears tagged six runs on six hits. Junior Matt Anthonis was beaned (hit-by-pitch) to get on base and then he advanced to second on single from junior Taylor Perun. Perun had a great day going 4 for 5 with a triple, a RBI, and two runs scored. Senior Mike Taylor then reached first on throwing error by the pitcher on an infield hit scoring Anthonis. Taylor stole second to put the Golden Bears into scoring position for junior Tom Booth who roped a double down the left field line scoring both Perun and Taylor. Schult singled to score Booth and then stole second. Sophomore Steve Ambrosino hit a grounder to short where senior Cameron Susk made a fielder's choice play at third to throw Schult out. Rubino then smacked a single up the middle advancing Ambrosino. Junior Tim Clark drove home Ambrosino with a single through the first and second basemen. Finally, junior Kyle McKelvey singled to left field driving home Rubino.
Juniors Tim Clark and Kyle McKelvey each had three hits apiece along with sophomore Jeff Schult. Juniors Mike Rubino and Tom Booth completed the list of Golden Bears whom had multi-hit games with 2 each.
The Ephs responded with two runs of their own when hot-hitting junior Taylor Mondshein swatted a single up the middle to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning. Freshman Phil McGovern reached on a fielder's choice and then advanced to second when Susk drew a walk. Senior Ben Oliva then drove a single through the shortstop and third baseman scoring McGovern. Another freshman Kirby Neuner then singled to left field bringing home Susk.
Juniors Taylor Mondshein and Darren Hartwell were the only Ephs batters with multi-hit games with a two apiece.
Perun started the top of the seventh inning with a leadoff triple to get the Golden Bears' bats going again. Taylor drew a walk and Booth singled to left field scoring Perun and advancing Taylor. Both of whom advanced into scoring position after a wild pitch. Then, Schult popped up a sacrifice fly ball down the right field line. The Golden Bears scored an extra run on the play due to an obscure rule where a player cannot throw a ball from beyond the field of play. (The field of play includes foul territory.)
The Ephs persisted with three runs of their own when senior Stephen Maier reached on a HBP (hit-by-pitch). Junior Darren Hartwell singled to left field advancing Maier. Then McGovern drove home Maier on a single and advanced to second on an error by the shortstop. Susk then reached on an error by the third baseman allowing Hartwell and McGovern to score.
Beginning the top of the eighth inning, the score was trimmed 10-5 still in favor of Western New England, but all hope was gone after the Golden posted four more runs. Clark led off the inning with a bunt down the third baseline to get on base. Then, McKelvey singled to advance Clark to second where Anthonis executed a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners into scoring position. Four more singles by Perun, Taylor, Schult, and freshman Steve Buckley capped another effective onslaught by the Golden Bears.
Oliva singled to start the bottom half of inning and he advanced to third base on junior Jimmy Ray's single to left. Maier then plated Oliva with a sacrifice fly to right field and that was the last of the scoring for the Ephs.
Senior Mark Ditommaso threw 6 2/3 innings to get the win improving his record to 3-0 on the season. Ditommaso allowed seven Ephs hits and five runs earning just two of them. He also contributed four strikeouts and three walks to his performance. Freshman Nick Salerno relieved Ditommaso in the bottom of the seventh going 1 1/3 innings allowing 1run (1 earned) on three hits adding a strikeout and a walk. Senior Rob Neagle closed the game in the ninth adding a strikeout.
Slater earned the loss and was relieved by senior Matt Berdoff in the fifth. Berdoff went three innings allowing three runs (three earned) on five hits adding a strikeout and walk of his own. Senior Dan Grossman filled in next in the eighth inning allowing four runs (four earned) on six hits adding a strikeout. Freshman Kelso Stevens looked strong in the top of the ninth getting three quick outs while facing four batters.
Williams continues play tomorrow, Tuesday, April 18th with a non-conference game at Southern Vermont (7-24). Western New England goes to Westfield State (13-14) on Thursday, April 19th in another non-conference game.
