MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Scott Shield '22 tossed 7.2 shutout innings in relief, allowing the Wesleyan baseball team to overcome a 3-0 first inning deficit and easily defeat Williams 11-3 on Friday from Dresser Diamond. Wesleyan (11-8, 3-1 NESCAC West) saw Kyle Sylvester '22 lay down a sacrifice bunt that tossed the go-ahead run in the sixth before the Cardinals added plenty of insurance with a six-run eighth inning to easily put away the Ephs (5-9, 0-1 NESCAC West).
 
Shield was incredible from start to finish in this one as Williams jumped out to an early 3-0 lead thanks to a three-run shot from Henry Juan in the top of the first. With two runners still on-base in the first and only one out, Shield entered and induced outs in the next two at-bats to escape further damage and set the tone for what was a sensational career day for the reliever.
  On the offensive end, Wesleyan loaded the bases in the bottom of the first and plated one run as Ricky Finkel '23 hit a sac fly to center field to plate Wes Fritch '22 and make it 3-1 Ephs after one.
 
As Shield continued to deal, inducing seven straight outs at one point between the first and fourth innings, the Cardinals plated two more to tie the score in the fourth. Dylan Judd '22 smacked a leadoff triple to right center and with two outs, came in to score on an RBI single from Fritch. A wild pitch moved Fritch over to second, setting Sylvester up who came through with a two-out RBI knock that made it 3-3 after four.
  After tying the score, the Ephs nearly answered back in their next at-bats as the first two batters singled before Shield induced a double play ball as Sylvester fielded a grounder, touched third and fired to Fritch at first. Shield then got Juan, who hit the three-run homer in the first, to strike out and keep the score intact.
 
The Ephs again had a great opportunity in the top of the sixth with runners at the corners and two outs but Jimmy Clifford '23 came up and rifled a throw down from his catcher position to Matt Halas '23 at short to gun down Daniel Lynch trying to steal second.
 
Wesleyan took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the sixth, with two runners in scoring position, Sylvester laid down a bunt that scored Halas from third and make it 4-3 heading into the seventh.
 
After a 1-2-3 inning from Shield, the Cardinals added an insurance run in the bottom half as Adam Geibel '22 singled to lead off the inning before Finkel smacked a double to deep left field. Ryan Molinari '22 cashed in with a sacrifice fly to left that scored Geibel and make it 5-3 Cardinals.
 
After yet another scoreless frame from Shield, Wesleyan broke the game open with a six-run eighth inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Geibel was hit by a pitch to score one and then Jack Scher '22 came to the plate in a pinch hit situation and he delivered with a fly ball to center that would have scored one but Williams' fielder mishandled the fly ball, allowing another to score to make it 8-3.
 
Molinari then came up to the plate and delivered with a two-run single that made it 10-3 and Luke LaSaracina '25 delivered with a two-run RBI single as the Cardinals scored another to cap the scoring and finish off a Little 3 win going away.
  Shield was unflappable in his performance, easily surpassing his previous career-high of 3.0 innings, the senior went 7.2 shutout innings with seven hits, five strikeouts and no walks allowed.
 
Fritch, Geibel, Molinari and LaSaracina each finished with two hits for the Cardinals. Molinari delivered in key moments with three RBI. Fritch finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored, one RBI and one walk. Geibel also went 2-for-3 with one RBI, two runs and one walk. Sylvester reached base safely three times in four plate appearances as he went 1-for-2 with two walks, two RBI and one run. Halas walked three times and scored twice including the go-ahead run in the sixth.
 
The 11 runs mark the first time Wesleyan has scored double-digit runs against their Little 3 rival since the 2016 season. In addition, one more victory over Williams in Sunday's doubleheader in Williamstown will clinch Wesleyan's first Little 3 title since 2016.