WILLIAMSTOWN, MA – The first game of Saturday's doubleheader between Williams and Middlebury unfolded as a back-and-forth battle at Bobby Coombs Field, with both teams exchanging momentum swings before the Panthers rallied late to edge the Ephs, 11–9.
The contest opened with sharp defense from the Ephs. After Middlebury put two runners on in the top of the first, second baseman Ryan Nakajima laid out for a spectacular diving catch to record the inning's second out, helping starter Owen McHugh escape the jam unscathed. Though the Panthers would scratch across two in the second and one more in the third, McHugh settled in, striking out six over five innings. It is important to note that he closed the first game of the series, which had been delayed from the night before, and finished shortly before this game started.
Trailing 3–0 entering the bottom of the fourth, the Ephs' offense exploded. Henry Juan drew a walk, and James O'Connor laced an RBI single down the right field line to get Williams on the board. After Nakajima laid down a perfect bunt single to bring in another run, Anthony Lods stepped to the plate and crushed a three-run homer just fair down the left field line. His emphatic celebration as he rounded the bases matched the jolt it gave the home dugout, and the Ephs took a 5–3 lead.
They stayed hot in the fifth. Dave Mosrie came inches from extending the lead with a near-home run to deep center, and moments later, Juan rifled a single to left to score Ben Swank. Nakajima's two-run single made it 8–3 after a dropped tag at the plate allowed two to cross and the heads-up Nakajima to advance to second on the play.
Middlebury, however, began chipping away in the sixth. After a hit-by-pitch and wild pitch, Peter Spielman slugged a two-run homer to right. The Ephs then turned to the bullpen, cycling through Issey Gestel and Lucas Asanovic. Asanovic navigated a jam in the sixth, but Middlebury broke through in the seventh. With two outs and two on, Caden Chi legged out an infield RBI single to tie the game at 8–8. Juan nearly reclaimed the lead in the bottom half with a towering fly to center, but it died just shy of the fence.
In the eighth, Middlebury finally took control. A pinch-hit single by Isaiah Rosario scored two, and a bunt single by Spielman added another as the Panthers moved ahead 11–8. Asanovic finished with 1.2 innings pitched, allowing three hits and one earned run with one strikeout.
Williams clawed one run back in the eighth after Hank Jacobus singled and came around to score on Swank's RBI single to right. But with the tying run at the plate, the Ephs couldn't find the big swing, leaving a runner on base to end the game.
Despite the loss, Williams showed flashes of brilliance—both at the plate and in the field—but ultimately couldn't hold off Middlebury's late push.
After the dramatic extra-inning game in the opener, the Williams College baseball team nearly pulled off a comeback but fell just short in a 12–10 loss in Game Two. A chaotic seven-inning contest, the game was marked by momentum swings, clutch hitting, and a furious Eph rally that nearly erased a seven-run deficit.
Middlebury jumped ahead early in the second after a walk and a pair of wild pitches plated the game's first run. Williams quickly responded in the home half of the inning with a string of quality at-bats. With two on and one out, senior shortstop Sasha Palma knocked an RBI single into left center, and later, freshman Hank Jacobus drove in another run on a fielder's choice, giving the Ephs a 2–1 lead.
But the Panthers chipped away in the fourth, capitalizing on a pair of passed balls and timely hits to tie the game at two, then took the lead for good in the fourth. A solo home run by Nathan Samii and a towering two-run shot by Bennett Slaughter highlighted an inning that put Middlebury in front 5–2.
Williams struggled to answer in the middle innings while the Panthers tacked on four more in the fifth. A double by Samii and RBI knocks from Kevin McCauslan and Andrew Han stretched the margin to 9–2.
Still, the Ephs didn't go quietly. Down ten runs entering the bottom of the fifth, Williams roared back with four runs in the frame. RBIs from Aidan Lods and Ryan Nakajima, along with aggressive base running and capitalizing on Panther wildness, pulled them within striking distance at 9-6.
Then, in the bottom of the sixth, chaos reigned. Williams loaded the bases with one out and chipped away relentlessly. Palma crossed on a wild pitch. Jacobus scored after being hit by a pitch. Nakajima's RBI single and Lods' bases-loaded walk kept the line moving. Two more wild pitches brought home additional runs, closing the gap to 12–10.
The Ephs had the tying runs aboard and the go-ahead run at the plate, but Middlebury reliever Finn Wessell finally slammed the door with a crucial double play ball to end the game.
Despite the loss, the Ephs showcased tremendous resilience. Palma led the way with a pair of hits and an RBI, while Nakajima stayed hot with two more knocks and two runs scored. Lods also reached base three times and drove in two.
Eph Head Coach
Bill Barrale, while disappointed on the day, was tremendously proud of his players, saying " It was a hard fought game from everyone, we have lots of very resilliant guys on this team". He noted strong play in all aspects of the game but said "we need to be a bit cleaner defensively". However is still optimistic on the season and looks forward to getting back to work this week and is excited for how his team will respond to finish out the last weeks of the season.
The Ephs return to play next Tuesday at home versus Bard College, starting at 4 P.M
