MIDDLEBURY, VT. – The Wesleyan baseball team competed in their first of three games in two days against their NESCAC foe, Middlebury Friday afternoon. The Cardinals and Panthers fought back and forth with multiple lead changes and ties throughout the 10-inning battle. The Cardinals seemed to have put it away with two runs in the top of the 9^th to go up 8-6, but Middlebury came back with two in the bottom half to force extras. Kyle Sylvester '22 delivered what ended up being the deciding hit in the 10^th, driving an RBI-single to left field that gave the Cards the lead for good. Middlebury opens NESCAC play with a loss, falling to 11-5 (0-1 NESCAC). Wesleyan picks up their second straight win, improving to 8-9 (2-2 NESCAC).
 
HIGHLIGHTS:

• The Cardinals opened the game at the plate going down in order, bringing the Panthers to bat in the bottom of the 1^st. They got right to work as a hit by pitch followed by a stolen base had a runner in scoring position with nobody out. After the next two Panthers were retired, Kyle McCausland delivered an RBI-double and it was 1-0 Middlebury after one inning of play
• Luke LaSaracina '25 evened the game in the 3^rd with a solo shot to center field and Wesleyan was right back in it. The Panthers would be quick to respond with a home run of their own in the bottom of the 3^rd to take back their lead, as Alec Ritch sent one over the left field fence to go up 3-1. Both pitchers then found some stability, holding their opponents scoreless through the top of the 5^th
• After the Panthers added an insurance run in the 5^th, Wesleyan got the bats going to open the 6^th. Sylvester led off with Wesleyan's 2^nd home run of the evening, sending one over the left field fence and the deficit was cut to 4-2. The Cardinals weren't done as after Evan Diaz '25 and Jack Nally '24 worked their ways on with a walk and hit by pitch, Cole Torino '24 sent a double down the left field line that cleared the bases and gave Wesleyan a 5-4 advantage
• Middlebury took the lead back in the bottom of the 7^th, scoring two on two hits and a Wesleyan error to go up 6-5. Wesleyan came right back with a sacrifice fly in the 8^th and the game was once again tied, 6-6. The Panthers appeared to make a crucial error in the top of the 9^th, as a wild pitch turned into two Wesleyan runs, but the Panthers came back in the bottom half with two of their own as they had all afternoon to even the game and force extras. After a walk and hit by pitch, Sylvester came through with another clutch hit, this time a RBI-single that ended up being the game-winner

 
NOTES:

• Wesleyan rode with Patrick Murphy '24 (6.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 6 K's) for most of this one, with David Tirrell '25 (3.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 K's) coming in relief to pick up the win. The Panthers used seven pitchers
• Ernie Little '26 (3-for-6, R) led the way in the hits department, putting together his 1^st 3-hit game of his career to go along with three stolen bases. Sylvester (2-for-6, HR, R, 2 RBIs) joined him with multiple hits, including the game-winner
• The Cardinals managed two home runs in this one, with LaSaracina (1-for-4, 2 R, HR, RBI) and Sylvester both hitting their 2^nd homers of the season
• The Cardinals and Panthers had 10 hits apiece, with Wesleyan leaving 13 runners on compared to Middlebury's six

 
UP NEXT:
Wesleyan will continue their series with the Panthers, playing in a double-header against Middlebury on the road tomorrow, April 8^th at 12 and 3 pm.