MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – The NESCAC Quarterfinal series between Wesleyan and Bowdoin is heading to a game 3 as the two sides split Saturday's postseason doubleheader from Dresser Diamond. Wesleyan (17-18) defeated Bowdoin (17-14) by a score of 8-4 in game one, but the Polar Bears bounced back with a 10-4 win in game two. The two sides meet again on Sunday at 11 AM for the rubber match of the best-of-3 series.
Game 1 | Wesleyan 8, Bowdoin 4
The Polar Bears were jumping on the first pitch to great success early on in game one, plating three runs in the first two innings while taking advantage of two key fielding errors for the Cardinals to lead 3-1 after two.
The game suddenly shifted, however, in the next two frames as
Patrick Murphy '24 recorded a one-two-three top of the 3
rd inning and the Cardinal bats responded with a four-run bottom half of the 3
rd.
Evan Diaz '25 knocked a two-run single to left to tie the score and
Luke LaSaracina '25 and
Jimmy Clifford '23 followed with one-run singles to make it 5-3 Wesleyan.
Murphy worked his way out of a jam with two Polar Bears in scoring position, inducing an inning-ending flyout to hold Bowdoin scoreless in the top of the 4
th. Three more runs then came across for the Cardinals as
Dylan Judd '22 smashed a two-run double to right before LaSaracina had his second one-run single of the game as Wesleyan led 8-3 after four.
Both sides failed to get much going offensively after four, as Bowdoin managed the only run for the remainder of play, a one-run homer coming off the bat of Gabe Peckler in the 8
th.
Murphy closed the game out with a top-notch performance, going the distance for his fourth complete game of the season. The junior allowed just one earned run while striking out a career-high nine, picking up his fifth win of the season.
Five Cardinals recorded multi-hit games while
Ernie Little '26 broke the program single-season stolen base record as he nabbed his 24
th steal of the season to pass Sam Player '91 on the all-time list.
Game 2 | Bowdoin 10, Wesleyan 4
Much like how Murphy dominated in game one, Bowdoin's starter Jack Mullen tossed a masterful nine innings with his team's season on the line to push the series to a game three. Mullen went the full nine innings, allowing just seven hits and one walk with seven strikeouts, earning his sixth win of the year.
After five Cardinals tallied at least two hits in game one, just one batter for Wesleyan totaled two hits in game two.
Bowdoin jumped out to an early lead once again in this one, leading 4-0 with five hits coming in the first two innings combined. Wesleyan responded with a three-run 2
nd inning, as
Cole Torino '24 had the big hit of the frame with a two-run single to right. Little followed with a perfectly placed bunt down the third base line to plate Clifford from third and cut the deficit to 4-3.
Wesleyan tied the game in the 4
th on the basepaths, but Bowdoin went on to score six unanswered over the final five innings. An error proved costly in the 6
th, with the Polar Bears scoring the go-ahead and ultimate game-winning run on the play. Bowdoin plated another in the inning to make it 6-4.
It was 7-4 Polar Bears after seven and some insurance came in the form of three runs in the top of the 9
th as the final score read 10-4.
Wesleyan looks to rebound in game three, looking for the program's first trip to the championship weekend in the new playoff format.
