Wheaton wins pair of seesaw games during NEWMAC twinbill at Clark

April 15, 2006

WORCESTER, MA- The Wheaton College baseball team maintained its top standing in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) following Saturday's sweep at Clark University, 8-5 and 17-8 at Granger Field. The Lyons can clinch their eighth regular season conference championship in the NEWMAC's eight-year history with a win over second-place Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on Tuesday.

Wheaton, ranked 26th nationally and second in the region, extended its program-best winning streak to 14 games and improved to 21-6 overall and 9-1 in league play. The Cougars fell to 8-20 and 1-8.

Senior Mark Baumer (Durham, ME/Greely) and junior Adam Laplante (Harwich, MA/Harwich) combined to drive in five of Wheaton's eight runs in today's opener, as the Lyons sprinted to a 5-0 lead after plating three in the top half of the fifth. Laplante spearheaded Wheaton's three-run fifth with a two-out, two-run triple to deep center.

Sophomore Chris McDonough (Weymouth, MA/Weymouth) carried a no-hitter into the fourth before allowing a two-out single. The Cougars rallied with three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth to even the score, as junior Robert Muollo (Quincy, MA/Dean College) helped Clark knot the contest with a two-run single to left in the sixth. Three straight hits during Wheaton's seventh led to the go-ahead run before Laplante and sophomore Jake Yagjian (Brewster, MA/Nauset Regional) used a sacrifice fly and single, respectively to complete the scoring.

Senior Jamie Baker (Boxford, MA/Masconomet Regional), who entered the game in the sixth, set down the Clark side in order in the seventh to improve to 3-0 on the season. Yagjian led three multiple hitters with a 3-for-4 showing, while Baumer and sophomore Scott Guillerault (South Portland, ME/South Portland) each went 2-for-4, with Guillerault hitting a solo homer in the first. Clark had six different batters account for the team's six hits.

Game two was truly a seesaw battle that witnessed five ties and four lead changes before Wheaton broke the game open with a seven-run ninth. Laplante and Guillerault led the Lyons' 17-hit onslaught, as the tandem each drove in four runs, posted three hits, scored two runs and launched home runs. Guillerault notched a long ball in each game, bringing his season total to eight, while Laplante continued to stay hot with his fourth homer over the last five days, improving his batting average to .600 and slugging percentage to 1.500 during Wheaton's 5-0 week.

After scoring the game's first run, the Lyons gave way to Clark's combined four runs in the second and third frames. Wheaton managed to tie the game at four in the fourth only to see the Cougars take a 6-4 lead in the home half of the inning. On the strength of Guillerault's two-run blast in the fifth, the Lyons picked up their first lead since a 1-0 edge in the first. Clark senior Scott Archibald (Windham, CT/Windham) capped the hosts' two-run fifth, the fourth straight inning the Cougars notched a pair of runs, with a two-run single and 8-7 lead.

A Guillerault RBI single in the sixth deadlocked the game at eight, and the Lyons began to pull away with another run in the seventh followed by Laplante's shot over the left center field fence in the eighth. Wheaton opened the flood gates in the ninth with seven runs on six hits, including a two-run double from Laplante. Aside from Laplante and Guillerault's performances, senior Andy Koocher (Portland, ME/Portland) went 3-for-5 with two RBI, junior Brandon Leonard (Brockton, MA/Brockton) was 2-for-5 with three runs, and classmate Travis Anthoine (Portland, ME/Portland) belted his first career home run to top off his two-RBI, two-run day.

On the mound, sophomore Josh Moore (Manchester, NH/Manchester Memorial) shut down the Cougar offense for three innings of relief, earning the win after firing three shutout frames with four strikeouts and one walk. Clark junior Jeremy Strom (Englewood, CO/Western Nebraska CC) was credited with the losses in both games.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 1/25/07.
Questions about this page? Use our query form.

News Headlines.

Wheaton baseball represented among collegiate summer league teams (more)

McDonough signs with Brockton Rox, becomes Wheaton's sixth professional (more)

Gingras named Wheaton's first ABCA All-America pitcher since 2002 (more)

Upcoming Schedule

7-15-Mar Sat-Sun Spring Break Trip N TBA
19-Mar Thu Rhode Island College A 3:00pm
22-Mar Sun Springfield (2) H 12:00pm