Hartford, CT- The Williams College Baseball team faced Wesleyan University in a doubleheader Saturday, April 6th. In the first game of the day, Wesleyan came away with a decisive 21-1 victory over the Ephs. In the second game Wesleyan shutout Williams in a 13-0 victory.
The contest began with Wesleyan quickly establishing a commanding lead in the top of the first inning, marked by a spectacular two-run homer by Luke LaSaracin and a series of strategic hits that exploited Williams' defensive errors. These initial runs set the tone for the game, as Wesleyan capitalized on every opportunity, leaving Williams to grapple with their shaky start. By the end of the first inning, Wesleyan had already built a formidable 5-0 lead.
Wesleyan's pitcher, Patrick Murphy, delivered a commanding performance, keeping Williams' batters at bay and stifling any potential rallies with precise pitches and excellent fielding support. As the innings progressed, Wesleyan continued to build on their lead.
In the second inning, Tyler Cosgrove's RBI single brought Evan Diaz home, pushing the score to 6-0.
Williams found the scoreboard in the third inning following Henry Juan's pivotal single that sent Brendan Stannard across the plate, signaling Williams' first run.
By the fourth inning, Wesleyan had further solidified their lead, with key hits leading to a 13-1 advantage. Despite Williams' efforts to rally back, Wesleyan's defense remained impenetrable, effectively shutting down any attempts to close the gap.
The climax of Wesleyan's scoring came in the fifth inning, where they delivered an astonishing six runs. This surge widened the gap to an insurmountable 19-1, leaving Williams with little hope of a comeback.
The game concluded with Wesleyan adding two more runs in the seventh inning, cementing their victory with a final score of 21-1.
In the second game of the day, Wesleyan came away with a 13-0 shutout.
From the first pitch, Wesleyan set a fast pace with Evan Diaz hitting a home run in the opening inning. Williams, undeterred by the early setback, rallied their spirits. Pitchers Max Hart, followed by JP Wong, and Eric Gage, stepped onto the mound with determination, delivering strikes and showcasing their skill against Wesleyan's aggressive batters. Their efforts kept the game engaging and demonstrated the depth of pitching talent at Williams.
The game continued with Wesleyan adding another run to their score, thanks to a sacrifice bunt by Matt Halas that brought Connor Sullivan home, doubling their lead to 2-0.
In the fifth inning, Wesleyan extended their lead with a significant play. Cole Torino, having reached base, scored thanks to a powerful triple to right center field by Evan Diaz. Following this, Evan Diaz also crossed the plate bringing Wesleyan's lead to 4-0.
Wesleyan would add a single run to the lead before a huge ninth inning from Wesleyan, adding six more runs to finalize their commanding lead at 13-0.
Williams head coach Barrale remained optimistic about the team's opportunity to bounce back tomorrow saying, "Tomorrows a new day and we get another chance to play again and get after it."
Williams will face Wesleyan again tomorrow in Middleton, CT at noon.
