Ephs Fight Back From Five Run Deficit Stunning Wesleyan 15-14

WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS. — In one of the wildest games of the season, the Williams College Ephs mounted an epic comeback from five runs down — and then some — erupting for 10 unanswered runs across the middle innings to storm past Wesleyan University 15–14 in Friday's series opener at Bobby Coombs Field.

After surrendering five runs in the top of the first and trailing 8–3 by the middle of the third, the Ephs looked destined for another long day. But a relentless lineup, anchored by a 4-hit game from sophomore Owen McHugh and a go-ahead eighth-inning double by Alex Lods, refused to quit.

Wesleyan opened the scoring in commanding fashion. After loading the bases with one out in the first, catcher C.J. Sullivan crushed a grand slam over the left field fence. One pitch later, Eddie Diaz made it back-to-back homers, launching a solo shot to make it 5–0 before the Ephs had recorded their second out of the game.

But the Ephs clawed back with a pair in the bottom of the first, including a solo blast from first baseman James O'Connor, and added one more in the second on a Wesleyan error to trim the deficit to 5–3.

The Cardinals struck again with three in the third — highlighted by another Sullivan RBI and a solo homer from James Marsden — stretching their advantage to 8–3. 

A run in the third, off of an RBI by Luca Lopertone, and another in the fourth, by Ben Swank, brought Williams within three. However, Wesleyan continued the onslaught with a two-run homer by Evan Diaz in the top of the fifth, to stretch their lead to 10-5. However the Ephs never flinched.

The game changed for the Ephs in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases loaded and one out, Ryan Nakajima flipped the momentum of the game, smoking a double into the right-center gap to bring in two runs and close the deficit to just two runs at 10-8. Henry Juan and Will Scott followed with RBI singles to tie the game up. Owen McHugh capped the frame with a clutch RBI single to give the Ephs their first lead of the day and send James O'Connor home to make the score 11-10. 

After Wesleyan briefly reclaimed the lead in the eighth on a two-run single from Ernie Little, Williams delivered the knockout blow in the bottom half. With two outs and two runners aboard, McHugh took the game into his own hands, smashing a single to left field to bring in two runs for the Ephs. From there, Anthony Lodds left no doubt that this was Williams' game to win, hitting another single for two-run RBI. Finally, Dave Mosrie added an RBI of his own, bringing the score to 15-12. 

Wesleyan wouldn't go quietly. In the top of the ninth, Sullivan launched his second home run of the day — a two-run shot to dead center — to bring the Cards back within one. But Williams' closer Grant Greiner stayed strong and closed out the game with two ground outs. Greiner finished the day with three strikeouts and earned his second win of the season. 

Owen McHugh went 4 for five at the plate, driving in three runs to help his team get the win today. After the game, he was all class, saying, "The team never gave up; we controlled what we could control and just focused on winning. I'm really proud of the resilience the team showed today."

This game brought the Ephs to a 14-13 record on the season. They continue their series with Wesleyan on the road starting at 1. P.M. in Middletown, CT.