Gingras carries no-hitter into seventh, helps Wheaton cap doubleheader sweep at Springfield and extend winning streak to 11 games

March 29, 2008

SPRINGFIELD, MA- Wheaton College junior righthander Adam Gingras (Woonsocket, RI/Woonsocket) carried a no-hitter into the seventh of a seven-inning game Saturday afternoon to help cap a doubleheader baseball sweep over New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) foe Springfield College at Berry-Allen Field. The Lyons needed an extra inning in game one to capture a 4-3 win before rolling to an 11-0 shutout in the second contest.

With today's sweep, Wheaton extended its winning streak to 11 games, which is tied for second best in program history. Entering today's action ranked 18th by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), the Lyons saw their overall record improve to 13-4 while remaining unbeaten in conference play at 4-0. Springfield fell to 3-10 on the season while opening its NEWMAC slate.

Gingras' dominant performance included seven strikeouts, three walks and an infield single, as he faced just four batters over the minimum. Gingras retired nine of his first 10 batters, fanning his final two on swings in the third. The Pride didn't reach second base until the sixth, but with two down Gingras struck out his sixth batter to get out of the inning unscathed, needing just three outs to record Wheaton's second no-hitter. Springfield broke up the bid on a slow dribbler to third to open the seventh before Gingras sandwiched two fly balls around a strikeout.

The Lyon offense gave Gingras plenty of run support early, sending home five first-inning runs on five hits, as five different players drove in a run each. After sophomore Jason Clucas (Peabody, MA/Saint John's Prep) plated his second run in the second, Wheaton tacked on two more in the fifth and three in the sixth for the eleven-run differential. Sophomore Paul Malaguti (Andover, MA/Andover) highlighted the fifth with a two-run single with two down, while senior Ken Depasse (Holden, MA/Saint John's) capped the sixth with a two-out, two-run double.

Junior Nick Pecora (Highland Park, NJ/Immaculata) and freshman Sean Munley (Trenton, NJ/The Hun School of Princeton) led six multiple-hit showings, with each going 3-for-4 with two runs and Pecora also plating a pair. Depasse batted 2-for-3 with two RBI, a run and a walk, Malaguti was 2-for-4 with two RBI, a run and a walk, while senior Scott Guillerault (South Portland, ME/South Portland) and freshman Hadi Raad (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY/Hastings) also had two hits each.

Munley's RBI singles in the first and third innings of the opener provided the Lyons with their lone two runs in regulation before needing two in the extra frame, as Springfield scored a pair in the home half of the third before making it a one-run game with another run in the eighth.

Wheaton had just one hit in the eighth but took advantage of four walks. Malaguti's sac fly snapped the 2-2 tie while sophomore Jeff Lieneck (Foxboro, MA/Xaverian Brothers) brought in a run after drawing the frame's fourth walk. Junior closer Josh Simmons (Cranston, RI/Cranston West) came on in the bottom of the inning to record the 10th save of his career, which is tied for second in program annals.

Munley, senior Jake Yagjian (Brewster, MA/Nauset Regional) and freshman Eric Laliberte (Nashua, NH/Bishop Guertin) posted two hits apiece, while senior Chris McDonough (Weymouth, MA/Weymouth) improved to 3-1 after fanning six on two runs and seven hits in seven innings of work.

After 17 games away from Norton, Wheaton is set to open its home slate tomorrow afternoon against Endicott College. The non-league game at Sidell Stadium is set for a 1:00 p.m. start.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 3/29/08.
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