Foote's RBI single keys Wheaton rally, sends Lyons past WNEC, 4-2

April 11, 2008

SPRINGFIELD, MA- Junior Robert Foote's (Walpole, MA/Walpole) RBI single broke an eighth-inning tie, and the nationally-ranked Wheaton College baseball team rallied from an early deficit for a 4-2 victory at Western New England College's Trelease Park on Friday afternoon. The Lyons, who have won 20 of their last 21 games in improving to 22-5, are ranked ninth by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), while the 16-7 Golden Bears are receiving votes in the national poll and lost for just the second time in 18 contests.

Western New England jumped on the board early, as sophomore Joe Griglun's (Southington, CT/Southington) first-inning sacrifice fly plated the game's initial run, and classmate Justin Walz (Groton, CT/Fitch) led off the third by tripling before scoring on a wild pitch. In all, the Golden Bears put seven runners on base during the opening three frames but came away with just the two runs, as Wheaton senior southpaw Chris McDonough (Weymouth, MA/Weymouth) worked out of trouble during much of that time.

The Lyons got on the board in the fourth, as freshman Sean Munley (Trenton, NJ/The Hun School of Princeton) led off with a double to the gap in right, advanced to third on a passed ball and came home on sophomore Jeff Lieneck's (Foxboro, MA/Xaverian Brothers) sacrifice fly.

Wheaton stranded two in the fifth before drawing even in the sixth, as the Blue and White slowly produced the game-tying run. Lieneck walked leading off, Foote singled and junior Nick Pecora (Highland Park, NJ/Immaculata) followed by moving the runners along with a sacrifice bunt. Freshman pinch hitter Eric Laliberte (Nashua, NH/Bishop Guertin) promptly grounded out to first base, scoring Lieneck.

Western New England threatened to go back in front during the seventh, but senior reliever Keith Pescosolido (Newton, MA/Newton North) fielded an inning-ending grounder back to the mound to escape a two-on, two-out jam. The Lyons rewarded the hurler with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth. Munley and Lieneck hit consecutive singles to start the frame before moving up one base each on an infield error, and Foote followed with Wheaton's third straight base knock to plate Munley and make it 3-2. With runners on the corners and none out, Lieneck scored from third on a double play for the Lyons' fourth run.

The hosts again put two on with two out in the home half of the eighth, but junior closer Josh Simmons (Cranston, RI/Cranston West) came out of the bullpen to fan the only batter he faced during the frame. In the ninth, the Golden Bears' first batter walked before Simmons induced two consecutive fielder's choice grounders and a game-ending fly ball to Foote in right field.

Munley was one of two Wheaton players with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with two runs. Foote also finished 2-for-4, while sophomore Paul Malaguti (Andover, MA/Andover) walked twice. McDonough earned a no-decision after yielding two runs on seven hits in four innings, while four relievers combined to blank the hosts over the final five frames. Freshman Chad Kasik (Dudley, MA/Shepherd Hill Regional) tossed 1.2 innings of two-hit ball, Pescosolido allowed one knock in 1.1 frames while earning the win, and junior Jared Barnes (North Attleboro, MA/Bishop Feehan) gave up one hit while recording his only two outs on strikeouts. Simmons finished off the strong showing from the Wheaton bullpen with his seventh save, recording four outs without yielding a hit.

Griglun, Walz and junior Chris Newell (Wallingford, CT/Sheehan) each had two hits for Western New England, while sophomore reliever Erich Geckle (Baldwin Place, NY/Somers) suffered the loss after allowing two runs on two hits in 1.2 innings. Senior starter Brian Shimansky (West Caldwell, NJ/James Caldwell) received a no-decision after giving up two runs on four hits in 5.1 innings with four strikeouts and five bases on balls.

Wheaton returns to action on Sunday at Clark University, as the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) twinbill is set to begin at 12:00 p.m. The contests were originally scheduled to be played on Saturday but were moved back a day due to expected inclement weather.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 4/11/08.
Questions about this page? Use our query form.

News Headlines

Rhode Islanders Gingras and Simmons to appear on FOX Providence (more)

Foote draws second ESPN The Magazine academic all-district honor (more)

Wheaton completes regular season with 11-2 victory on Senior Day (more)

Upcoming Schedule

14-May Wed Worcester State - NCAA Tournament N TBA