Wheaton nine suffers 8-1 setback to undefeated College of New Jersey

March 13, 2008

PHOENIX, AZ- The Wheaton College baseball team faced undefeated College of New Jersey for the second time on its spring trip Thursday afternoon, as the Lyons succumbed to the Lions, 8-1. In the Collegiate Baseball preseason poll, Wheaton is 13th nationally and TCNJ 14th. The Lyons slip to 2-4 overall, while the Lions are 7-0.

The College of New Jersey plated its eight runs on 14 hits, scoring in five innings while tallying two runs during three frames. Falling behind early, Wheaton made it a 3-1 game after two, but the Lions brought around a run in the third, two in the fifth and a pair more in the seventh, limiting the Blue and White to just five hits on the day.

Sophomore Jeff Lieneck (Foxboro, MA/Xavierian Brothers) was Wheaton's lone offensive bright spot early, opening the second with a base knock up the middle. After stealing second base, Lieneck advanced to third on a ground ball to short from freshman Sean Munley (Trenton, NJ/The Hun School of Princeton) before scoring on a wild pitch.

Wheaton stranded a runner at third in the fourth and left two runners in scoring position in the fifth. Junior Robert Foote (Walpole, MA/Walpole) launched a one-out double to left center and freshman Hadi Raad (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY/Hastings) followed with a single to short but, after sophomore Paul Malaguti (Andover, MA/Andover) drew a walk to load the bases, the Lyons grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Wheaton walked two times in each the seventh and eighth innings but came away empty, as the Blue and White stranded a total of nine base runners. Foote was Wheaton's lone multiple hitter, going 2-for-3 with the double and walk. Senior Scott Guillerault (South Portland, ME/South Portland) had the Lyons' other hit in addition to a base on balls, as Wheaton drew a combined seven walks.

In his first collegiate start, sophomore righthander Jon Shepard (Salisbury, MA/Triton Regional) allowed five runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and no walks through 4.1 innings. Junior Karl Olson (Bethel, ME/Gould Academy) tossed two middle relief innings, while freshman Chad Kasik (Dudley, MA/Shepherd Hill Regional) fired 2.2 scoreless frames, fanning four Lion batters with zero walks while surrendering just one hit.

Wheaton faces Hope College of Michigan tomorrow for the first time in program history. The Lyons and Flying Dutchmen will do battle at 2:00 p.m. Hope is receiving national votes in the Collegiate Baseball preseason poll.

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