Martin's 11th-inning walk-off single snaps Eastern Connecticut State University's 10-game win streak in battle of region's top teams

April 26, 2007

NORTON, MA- Senior Jeff Martin's (Marblehead, MA/Marblehead) 11th-inning walk-off single capped the Wheaton College baseball team's thrilling 7-6 non-conference victory over visiting Eastern Connecticut State University Thursday afternoon in a battle of the region's top-ranked squads at Sidell Stadium.

Snapping the Warriors' 10-game winning streak, the Lyons are ranked first in New England and seventh nationally according to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). Wheaton, which has won 23 of its last 29 games to improve to 24-10, is 18-4 in one-run contests since last spring. Winners in 19 of 20 games entering today with rankings of second in the region and 11th nationally, Eastern falls to 23-8.

Wheaton tied its third-highest hit total of the year with 20 base knocks, as each of the first eight batters in its lineup posted multiple-hit performances. Most of today's offense took place in the game's early going, as 11 runs came in during the first five innings. Three runs came across in the first, with the Warriors clinging to a 2-1 lead after two, but the Lyons scored twice in the third on a double-play ball and RBI single from sophomore Robert Foote (Walpole, MA/Walpole).

Eastern retook the lead in the top of the fourth thanks to a two-run, one-out triple off the bat of senior Eric O'Toole (Waterbury, CT/Sacred Heart). After the teams exchanged runs over the next two half innings, Wheaton went ahead 6-5 on a single swing of junior Scott Guillerault's (South Portland, ME/South Portland) bat. Guillerault drove a two-run homer over the left field fence, marking the first longball at Sidell in 17 games this year.

The Lyon lead held until the top of the ninth, as junior Ismael Bolorin (Manchester, CT/Manchester) led off by drawing a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on senior Randy Re's (Danbury, CT/Danbury) single through the left side to help push the game into extra innings. Wheaton sophomore closer Josh Simmons (Cranston, RI/Cranston West) tossed a 1-2-3 inning in the 10th, while junior Keith Pescosolido (Newton, MA/Newton North) induced an inning-ending double play in the 11th, setting up the dramatic home half.

After consecutive singles from senior Adam Laplante (Harwich, MA/Harwich) and junior Jake Yagjian (Brewster, MA/Nauset Regional) put runners at the corners to begin the inning, sophomore James Kukucka (Vernon, CT/Rockville) fanned Wheaton's next two batters as the Warriors appeared to be headed out of the inning unscathed. However, Martin's opposite-field hit sent the Lyons to their third extra-inning victory of the season.

Yagjian, senior Travis Anthoine (Portland, ME/Portland) and sophomore Nick Pecora (Highland Park, NJ/Immaculata) each had three hits for the Lyons, Guillerault went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two walks, while Foote, Laplante, Martin and senior Brandon Leonard (Brockton, MA/Brockton) posted two hits each. Pescosolido improved to 4-3 on the mound after tossing a hitless, shutout 11th.

Sophomore Tristan Hobbes (Utica, NY/Notre Dame) was 2-for-3 with one run, Re finished 2-for-5 with two runs, and O'Toole went 2-for-5 with two RBI. Bolorin scored twice, while Kukucka took the loss after allowing one run on three hits in his first decision of the season.

Wheaton now turns its attention to this weekend's New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament, as the Lyons will host their seventh straight beginning Saturday morning against fourth-seeded Babson College at 11:00 a.m. Wheaton is in search of its eighth tournament title in nine seasons.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 4/27/07.
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