Williamstown, MA - The Williams College Baseball team took on Castleton in their first home game of the season. The Ephs won the game in six innings due to rain with a final score of, 8-3. The Ephs showcased their depth on the mound, cycling through multiple pitchers to keep the Castleton hitters off balance.
Jacob Martin started on the mound for Williams, setting a strong defensive tone by stifling Castleton's batters in the initial innings. Despite Castleton's attempts to swing the momentum in their favor, Martin, supported by a stout defensive lineup, kept the scoreline in check.
In the bottom of the second inning Mike Giove stepped up to the plate with two outs on the board and hit a single to left center bringing in Ryan Nakajima. The Ephs ended the second inning up, 1-0.
The Ephs added three additional runs in the third inning to help solidify their lead. The action kicked off with Brendan Stannard's single to left field, immediately putting pressure on Castleton's defense. Brendan Stannard and Henry Juan showcased aggressive base running by executing a double steal, setting the stage for the runs that followed. Sasha Palma's sacrifice fly brought Stannard home, opening the scoring for the inning. James O'Connor then doubled to right center, driving in Juan for the second run. The inning's momentum continued as Will Scott delivered a timely single down the right-field line, allowing O'Connor to score and marking the third run of the inning.
Castleton narrowed the lead against Williams in the fourth and fifth innings, thanks to key plays by Brendan Shader and Trey LaVigne. In the fourth, both contributed to narrowing the Ephs' lead, with Shader crossing the plate again in the fifth to tighten the game to a single-score difference.
In the sixth inning, Williams built upon their lead with precision. Mike Giove kicked off the scoring with a double to left field. Following Giove, Luca Lopetrone's bunt and a Vermont error allowed Giove to score, while Brendan Stannard's double down the left-field line drove in Lopetrone. Sasha Palma added to the tally with a single that scored Stannard, and Ryan Nakajima's walk with bases loaded brought Henry Juan home, cementing a four-run inning.
Eph head coach Bill Barrale expressed great pride in the Ephs' resilience during a challenging game played under rainy conditions, which made routine plays difficult. Following a streak of six losses, Barrale was particularly pleased with securing a home victory, emphasizing the significance of their first game on their field this spring. He highlighted the team's determination and looks forward to carrying this momentum into their upcoming matchup against Wesleyan.
Castleton did not record another run in the seventh, resulting in an 8-3 victory for the Ephs.
Williams travels to Weslayan Friday, April 5th to kick off their first in conference series.
