Hughes remains unbeaten in helping lead Lyons past host Brandeis, 8-1

March 25, 2008

WALTHAM, MA- The Wheaton College baseball team received a pair of solid pitching performances during Tuesday afternoon's 8-1 non-league win at Brandeis University, as junior lefty Brian Hughes' (Dudley, MA/Shepherd Hill Regional) third win of the spring helped the nationally-ranked Lyons extend their winning streak to eight games on Stein Diamond.

Ranked 18th in today's American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) poll, Wheaton improved its season mark to 10-4. The Judges saw their record fall to 5-4.

Hughes surrendered just one run and five hits with three strikeouts and two walks in 6.1 innings, while junior Jared Barnes (North Attleboro, MA/Bishop Feehan) was impressive in relief, firing 2.2 scoreless frames while fanning three and issuing zero walks.

The Lyons got all the scoring they would need in the third inning, scoring four runs on just one hit, as the Judges committed three errors to go along with a hit batsman and wild pitch. Senior Jake Yagjian (Brewster, MA/Nauset Regional) highlighted the frame with a two-run double down the right field line.

Wheaton capitalized with three runs on just one hit in the fifth, taking advantage of an intentional walk and defensive miscue. After sophomore Paul Malaguti (Andover, MA/Andover) got hit by a pitch and Yagjian walked, freshman Sean Munley (Trenton, NJ/The Hun School of Princeton) moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Senior Scott Guillerault (South Portland, ME/South Portland) was issued a free pass to load the bags, and sophomore Jeff Lieneck (Foxboro, MA/Xaverian Brothers) followed with a two-run single down the left field line. Guillerault ended up coming home on a throwing error that made the score 7-0.

Meanwhile, Hughes and the Lyon defense kept Brandeis at bay. After yielding a one-out single in the first, Hughes got out of the frame unscathed as Wheaton's middle infielders turned two. Outside of the Blue and White's lone error in the second, Hughes retired every batter he faced in the second through fourth innings. The Lyons avoided trouble in the fifth and sixth by turning double plays in each frame.

The Judges broke up the shutout bid in the seventh, as freshman Pat Nicholson (East Walpole, MA/Walpole) connected on a one-out RBI single up the middle. Barnes forced consecutive ground balls to second to limit the damage, and Brandeis didn't threaten the rest of the way.

Wheaton was paced by Malaguti, who went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. He also was twice hit by a pitch. Yagjian drove in two runs, scored twice and drew three walks, while Guillerault reached base on two walks.

Sophomores Drake Livada (Cape Elizabeth, ME/Cape Elizabeth) and John O'Brion (Portland, ME/Portland) were the Judges' lone multiple hitters, while senior hurler Tyler Robinson (Manotick, Ontario/Hotchkiss School) suffered his first loss of the season. He gave up eight runs, three of which were earned, on five hits with six strikeouts and four walks in 5.2 innings.

Wheaton remains on the road this Thursday for a non-league game at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. Game time in North Dartmouth is set for 3:30 p.m.

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