Auburndale, FL – The Williams Ephs (4-3, 0-0 NESCAC) bounced back on day two of their Spring Break trip, sweeping the Purchase Panthers (4-10, 2-0 Skyline) in a doubleheader on Sunday. First-year pitcher
Lucas Brandt dazzled in game one, getting the win in his first collegiate start.
Owen McHugh continued a stellar start to the year on the mound in game two, earning his first win of the year.
In game one, Williams got out to an early lead that they would not relinquish. McHugh—batting lead off and serving as the designated hitter—reached first on a walk and stole second base before scoring on an RBI single from
Henry Juan.
Ryan Nakajima led off the second inning with his first home run of the season, extending the Williams lead to 2-0.
James O'Connor added to the lead in the third with a solo home run of his own, also his first of the year.
Williams extended their lead in the fifth inning. After an O'Connor single and
Luca Lopetrone walk, Nakajima continued his standout day by lining a single to centerfield to drive in O'Connor. Later in the inning,
James Murray doubled down the left field line for his first collegiate RBIs, driving in Lopetrone and Nakajima.
Purchase finally got on the board in the top half of the sixth on a Liam Daly solo homer to centerfield. He came back up to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh and doubled to drive in two more runs, but the Ephs perfectly executed a relay to cut down Panos Sinis at home plate and end the game.
Lucas Brandt earned the win for the Ephs, pitching six innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts. Kyan Zamaniyan took the loss for the Panthers, only lasting the first two innings.
Game two started similarly to the first.
Ben Swank led off for the Ephs with a single, eventually making it to third base after a walk and stolen base.
James O'Connor scored him with a sacrifice fly to left field.
Owen McHugh would shut down the Purchase offense for the next two innings, setting the Ephs up to extend their lead in the middle innings.
Dave Mosrie led off the third for Williams with a triple over the centerfielder's head, scoring on a wild pitch two batters later. After reaching on a walk, Swank scored on a double to right from
Henry Juan. O'Connor followed up with another sacrifice fly, this time scoring
Marcus Burrell II. The Eph lead was now 4-0.
Williams continued to apply pressure in the fourth.
Hank Jacobus led off with a single, his first collegiate hit. After a
Luca Lopetrone double put runners at second and third, Mosrie scored Jacobus with a sacrifice fly. Lopetrone scored on a wild pitch moments later.
Marcus Burrell II kept the line moving with a sharp single to center and quickly stole second base, allowing
Ben Swank to score when the Purchase second baseman couldn't handle the throw from the catcher. Juan walked and was replaced at first base by
Ellington Fagan. O'Connor followed by hitting a ball to right field, scoring Burrell II on an error by the right fielder. The ninth Williams run of the game scored when
Ryan Nakajima grounded out to first base, driving in Fagan.
Williams scored twice more in the fifth, extending their lead to 11-0. Mosrie tripled once again to centerfield and scored on a sacrifice fly from Burrell II. O'Connor continued his stellar day with an RBI single to score Swank, who had reached when hit by a pitch.
The final Williams run scored in the sixth. With two outs,
Nate Rosner crushed a double to right field and scored on a single from Mosrie, his third hit of the game.
Purchase fought back in the sixth, scoring six runs on three hits, three batters hit by pitches, and a walk.
JH Vaughan entered the game for the Ephs and induced a fielder's choice on his first pitch to end the threat and keep the Williams lead at six runs. He would come back out for the seventh inning and only face four hitters, ending the game on a strikeout.
Owen McHugh earned the win for Williams, pitching four scoreless innings with only two hits and seven strikeouts. Anthony Ciccone took the loss for Purchase, pitching four innings and allowing nine runs, seven of them earned.
Eph head coach
Bill Barrale was fired up about his team's performance today, emphasizing that "
Lucas Brandt and
Owen McHugh really set the tone today." He also shared that ,"It was great to see our bats come alive," and described the day as a "great team effort where it was fun to see everyone play!"
Williams will have Monday off before playing Union College in Winter Haven, Florida on Tuesday. First pitch will be at 1:30pm.
