Davenport, FL – The Williams Ephs (6-6, 0-0 NESCAC) clinched a series victory over the Colby Mules (10-6, 0-0 NESCAC), falling 8-7 on Friday but winning Saturday morning's rubber match by a score of 9-7.
Williams jumped out to an early lead in Friday's 1pm match up.
Marcus Burrell II singled off Colby starter Thomas Rioux, eventually reaching third base on a
Henry Juan single and a wild pitch. He then took home on a miscue by the Colby catcher, giving the Ephs a 1-0 lead after the opening frame.
Colby took the lead in the top of the fourth. With a runner on first base from a walk, Marco Zirpolo homered to left field, making the score 2-1. The Mules extended their lead in the fifth inning on a fielder's choice, scoring a base runner from third base.
Williams recaptured the lead in the bottom of the fifth.
Hank Jacobus led off with a single, and
Dave Mosrie followed up with a long home run to left that tied the game.
Luca Lopetrone added a single, eventually making it to third base with two steals. After a
Ben Swank walk, Burrell II grounded into a double play but scored Lopetrone, giving Williams a 4-3 lead after five.
Owen McHugh put up a zero in the sixth, his last inning of work on the mound. After a Williams pitching change, Colby scored four runs in the seventh to take a 7-4 lead. They added another run in the top of the ninth on an RBI single from Sam Nigro.
Williams nearly completed a comeback in the bottom of the ninth.
Nate Rosner led off the inning with a double, scoring on a two-out double from Lopetrone. Lopetrone quickly scored on an RBI single from Swank, making the score 8-6. Swank stole second base and advanced to third on a single hit by
Marcus Burrell II. After Colby intentionally walked
Henry Juan to load the bases, Swank scored on a balk by the Colby pitcher, also advancing Burrell II and Juan into scoring position. However, a ground out would end the game, giving the Mules an 8-7 win.
Matt Higgins was the winning pitcher out of the bullpen for Colby.
Daniel Okstein took the loss for Williams.
Game 2 began Saturday at 10am, with
Lucas Brandt on the mound for Williams and Ryan Grecco starting for Colby. With two outs in the bottom of the second inning, Colby plated four runs on two hits, four walks, and a fielder's choice.
Williams would answer back in the top of the third with four consecutive one-out hits.
Luca Lopetrone doubled and
Ben Swank singled, putting runners at the corners.
Marcus Burrell II struck an RBI single to score Lopetrone, and
Henry Juan followed with a single to drive in Swank. The Ephs would chip away further at the Colby lead in the fourth inning with an RBI ground out from
Oliver Rey that scored
Owen McHugh, who walked to lead off the inning.
Colby utilized small ball to extend their lead in the bottom of the fourth, using bunts, timely hits, and a Williams error to score two more runs. Colby's lead was 6-3 after four innings.
The next two innings were scoreless for both sides. Williams added a run in the top of the seventh, with Swank leading off by reaching on an error by the Colby shortstop. After stealing second and reaching third on a hit by pitch, Swank took home on a wild pitch from Colby relief pitcher Joe Sylvester. Despite loading the bases, that would be all for the Ephs. Colby led 6-4 after seven innings.
Williams cut the deficit to one in the eighth. Lopetrone walked with one out, and Swank reached on an error by the Colby third baseman, with Lopetrone advancing to third on the play. Burrell II then hit a sacrifice fly to right field, driving in Lopetrone and cutting the Eph deficit to just one run. After a scoreless inning from Williams reliever
Grant Greiner, Colby led 6-5 entering the ninth inning.
McHugh led off the ninth inning with a single to right field and advanced to second on a well-placed bunt from
Hank Jacobus.
Dave Mosrie then reached first on a Colby error and quickly executed a double steal with McHugh. The Colby catcher attempted to catch McHugh stealing and end the game, but his throw got away from the third baseman. McHugh took advantage of the mishap and scored, tying the game at 6-6. Swank then came up huge, lining a single to center to drive in Mosrie and give the Ephs a 7-6 lead.
Lucas Asanovic entered the game at pitcher in the bottom of the ninth for Williams. After a slick double play turned by Mosrie, Colby pinch hitter Max Diamond connected on a pinch-hit home run to tie the game and send it to extra innings.
Williams would quickly take the lead back in the top of the tenth. Burrell II reached on a walk, and Juan was hit by a pitch from the new Colby reliever.
Ryan Nakajima laid down a perfect bunt, loading the bases. After a strikeout,
Hank Jacobus connected on a clutch two-run single to score Burrell II and Juan and put Williams ahead 9-7. That would be all for the Ephs in the tenth inning.
Asanovic would not be denied in the bottom of the tenth, inducing three ground outs to end the game, punctuated by a great play made by Jacobus at first base.
Asanovic got the win on the mound for Williams, the first of his collegiate career. Myles Gythfeldt was the losing pitcher for Colby.
Eph head coach
Bill Barrale was excited about the atmosphere created by the series, explaining that "it was an intense NESCAC weekend series feeling" and "just what we needed to get prepared for the next month." He pointed out the numerous contributions from the Williams underclassmen, exclaiming that "a lot of young players stepped up, and it was fun to watch them play!"
With this marking the end of their spring break trip, the Ephs will head back to campus Sunday and begin preparations for the rest of their schedule. They will face off against Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York on Wednesday at 4pm before heading to Hamilton College for their first NESCAC West series on Friday.
