2005 NEWMAC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT - Wheaton set to return to NCAA Tournament following thrilling 9-6 eleven-inning victory over Springfield

May 2, 2005

NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College baseball team will make a return to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the fifth time in six seasons, as the Lyons plated three runs in the top half of the 11th inning Monday afternoon to defeat a resilient Springfield College team, 9-6 in thrilling fashion in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament championship round at Sidell Stadium.

Capturing their sixth NEWMAC Tournament championship in the seven-year history of the conference, the Lyons, ranked 24th in the nation and second in New England, collected their fifth straight victory to improve to 27-8 on the season. Seeded third in this year's conference tournament, Springfield will now await a possible postseason berth into the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament with an overall record of 19-15.

The Pride battled back from a pair of multiple-run deficits this afternoon, including tying the game at two in the sixth inning and six in the bottom half of the ninth to force the extra-inning affair. With the score knotted at two runs apiece heading into the seventh, Wheaton plated single runs in the seventh and eighth frames followed by a two-run ninth courtesy of a Mark Baumer (Durham, ME/Greely) double to right field for a 6-2 advantage.

Springfield battled all the way back from its four-run deficit, as the Pride used five hits coupled with a throwing error to deadlock the game at six runs apiece. Senior Anthony Gorneault (Springfield, MA/Cathedral) and juniors Derek Yvon (East Longmeadow, MA/Cathedral) and Adam Tarquini (Fishkill, NY/John Jay) each drove in a run in the frame. Following a scoreless 10th inning, the Lyons strung together a pair of hits by Baumer and freshman Scott Guillerault (South Portland, ME/South Portland) in the 11th to recapture the lead for good.

The Pride made things difficult on the hosts in the bottom half of the inning, loading the bases on a Yvon single and consecutive walks from seniors Matt Basteri (Melrose, MA/Melrose) and John Beattie (Longmeadow, MA/Cathedral). With one out on the board and the go-ahead run at the plate, Wheaton senior righthander Kevin Doherty (Tewksbury, MA/Tewksbury) thwarted Springfield's upset bid after catching the Pride's next two batters looking on strikes. Doherty earned his second save of the season with three strikeouts in the frame.

Freshman southpaw Josh Moore (Manchester, NH/Manchester Memorial) picked up the win in relief, allowing four runs on six hits with four strikeouts and one walk in three innings of work. Junior Chris Martin (Marshfield, MA/Marshfield) threw seven innings in the start, allowing two runs on four hits while fanning three batters and issuing three walks. Springfield junior Carl Longo (Manchester, NH/Manchester Central) took the loss, surrendering two runs and two hits with one walk in one inning. Sophomore starter Derek Hodder (Naugatuck, CT/Hamden) went 6.2 innings and allowed three runs and six hits with one strikeout and three walks.

Wheaton had four players record three hits in the victory, including Baumer, Guillerault, senior Keith Cooper (Swampscott, MA/The Pingree School) and sophomore Brandon Leonard (Brockton, MA/Brockton). Baumer drove in three runs and scored three times, while Leonard accounted for three runs scored. For Springfield, Gorneault, Yvon and senior Michael Judge (Chatham, NJ/Chatham) registered two hits apiece.

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