Ephs defeat Springfield 6-1 in bounce back win
WILLIAMSTOWN, MA- The Williams College baseball team (22-9) got
hits from 10 different players Thursday afternoon en route to a 6-1
win over Springfield. Only a Saturday doubleheader now separates
the Ephs from Sunday's NESCAC showdown against Amherst.
"It's good to play every day because you get the chance to bounce
back quickly," said Bill Barrale. "Springfield is a good program
with good athletes and it's nice to get the win after yesterday's
tough loss to a strong RPI team."
Senior ace Dan Benz got the ball to start the game and did not
disappoint. The lefthander scattered two hits over three innings to
go along with five strikeouts. Sophomore pitcher Dan Marcet pitched
a scoreless sixth inning for the win.
"I think a strength of this team that many overlook is our depth,"
said Barrale. "We have a lot of strong arms in the bullpen and it
makes it easier for me when I have a lot of options to go to in the
later innings."
On offense, the Ephs got hits from everyone in the starting
lineup. In the second, the Ephs got on the board first as senior
Taylor Mikell scorched an RBI double and then scored on a wild
pitch. He followed that up with a sacrifice fly in the third to
give the Ephs a 4-0 lead.
Sophomore pitcher Tommy Hester gave up the lone Pride run in the
fifth, but was very effective in two innings of relief, striking
out two. In the seventh, first year Cameron Susk got the run back
on an RBI single, and in the eighth, first year Chase Davenport put
the game out of reach with an RBI single of his own.
"We had clutch hits where we didn't yesterday and some key RBIs,"
commented Barrale. "It was a full team effort, defense, pitching,
and hitting, and that's what we'll need heading into this
weekend."
The Ephs now look forward to Saturday's home doubleheader against
MIT, where the Ephs will look to get to 24 wins before Sunday's
crucial matchup with Amherst. An Eph win on Sunday would clinch
home field advantage for the NESCAC tournament.
