Ephs Take Down Bowdoin in NESCAC Quarterfinal With an 11-Run 6th Inning to Seal a 16-9 Comeback Win

BRUNSWICK, Maine — In a game that had everything — big innings, wild swings, and a record-setting homer — the Williams College Ephs stormed back from a 7–0 deficit to defeat Bowdoin 16–9 on Sunday afternoon, sweeping the NESCAC quarterfinal series and advancing to the championship weekend.

Early on, things looked bleak for the Ephs. Bowdoin jumped out to a 2–0 lead in the first behind a Kevin Murray RBI double and a bases-loaded walk from Cal Thompson. The Polar Bears continued to apply pressure, tacking on four more runs in the fourth inning and another in the fifth to build a commanding 7–0 advantage. Murray drove in two runs on a pair of doubles, Lukas Tsai and Will Bordes each added RBI hits, and Liam Foley scored three times in the first five innings alone.

But the sixth inning turned the game upside down.

With the game starting to get away from the Ephs, Williams sent 15 batters to the plate, scored 11  runs on just one hit, and flipped the script entirely. The rally started with a walk, an error, and a hit-by-pitch to load the bases. From there, the Ephs capitalized on Bowdoin miscues and clutch at-bats. RBI walks from Ben Swank, Marcus Burrell II, Henry Juan, and James O'Connor chipped away at the deficit. Then, after a pitch hit Will Scott to tie the game 7–7, Ryan Nakajima delivered the dagger — a towering, two-out grand slam to right field, capping a stunning 11-run frame.

Bowdoin answered with a two-run homer from Foley in the bottom of the inning, but Williams never looked back. In the seventh, Burrell drove in Oliver Rey to make it 12–9, and the Ephs padded their lead with four more in the ninth. Rey doubled in a run, Swank and Juan added RBIs, and O'Connor reached on an error that brought in another. Williams scored 16 runs on 10 hits, aided by 11 walks, four hit batters, and three Bowdoin errors.

Rey had a standout day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI, while Burrell II reached base five times and drove in two. Nakajima finished with a game-high four RBIs.

On the mound, Williams used six pitchers. After early struggles, JH Vaughan steadied things with two solid innings to earn the win, improving to 4–1 on the season. Lucas Asanovic tossed a clean ninth to seal the victory.

With the win, the Ephs move on to the NESCAC Semifinals next weekend. After the game, Eph head coach Bill Barrale praised his team's grit: "Down seven and never gave up… this team just believes they are going to win."

With today's win, the Ephs advance to championship weekend, where they will take on Colby in the Semifinal match up. The first game will start on Friday at 3:00 p.m at Bowdoin, College, the predertermined host of the NESCAC Championship semifinals and finals.