March 31, 2006
NORTON, MA - Sophomore Pat O'Connor (Mattapoisett, MA/Old Rochester Regional) scored the game-winning run on a two-out error in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting Wheaton College over Endicott College, 6-5, in a non-conference baseball game Friday at Sidell Stadium.
It was the Lyons (10-6) third straight victory and their sixth by two runs or less, while the Gulls dropped to 2-10.
Endicott freshman reliever Alex Borre (Wilmette, IL/Bridgton Academy) retired the first two Lyons of the bottom of the ninth but O'Connor kept the frame alive on a single through the left side of the infield. Senior Mark Baumer (Durham, ME/Greely) dumped a base hit into right that moved O'Connor to third and that's when the trouble began.
Baumer took off for second on a delayed steal intended to draw a throw from the catcher. The throw was errant and O'Connor came home from third with the winning run.
In a game that saw eight errors and seven unearned runs, the teams began the day trading a pair of unearned runs in the third inning. Endicott loaded the bases with no outs and scored twice on an infield error before the Lyons followed suit.
Wheaton loaded the bases with no outs and got an RBI infield single off Baumer's bat and senior Mark Brown (Chelmsford, MA/Chelmsford) knotted the score on an RBI groundout.
Endicott junior Erik Fields (Swampscott, MA/Swampscott) tripled with two down in the fifth and scored on a wild pitch, but Baumer responded with a solo blast over the right center field fence during the sixth.
Each team played a pair of runs in the eighth. Endicott took another lead by scoring twice on an outfield miscue before Wheaton evened the score on junior Jeff Martin's (Marblehead, MA/Marblehead) pinch-hit double down the line in left.
Wheaton junior Joe White (Bedford, NH/Manchester West) worked the first eight innings, fanning nine and walking three. He scattered five hits and five runs (1 earned) and senior Jamie Baker (Boxford, MA/Masconomet Regional) pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn the victory.
Junior Mike Daggett (Sabattus, ME/Oak Hill Regional) received a no-decision after going 7.2 innings of nine-hit ball, allowing five runs, but only three earned.
Borre was charged with the loss after allowing two hits and an unearned run. Freshman Joe Paciello (Worcester, MA/Saint Peter Marian) ripped a double in the EC loss.
The Gulls will look to get back on track Saturday when they travel to Curry (12:00 PM).