AMHERST, Mass. – It was a resounding start to NESCAC play for the Wesleyan baseball team as the Cardinals saw AJ Karabenick '24 throw the best outing of his career before the offense scored four runs, all with two outs, in the 10^th inning to secure a 5-1 win in extra innings over Amherst on Friday night. The Cardinals (12-2, 1-0 NESCAC West) have won four of the past five meetings against the Mammoths (8-3, 0-1 NESCAC West).
 
Karabenick carried the Cardinals for most of the game, as the senior went nine innings and allowed just one run on five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. He retired the first six batters he faced while the defense picked him up when needed, including a crucial denied on a double steal attempt in the 4^th inning as Cole Torino '24 gunned down the base runner who left third after the throw-down to second base.
 
Wesleyan managed to take the lead in the 5^th inning as Tyler Cosgrove '25 led off with a single to left before moving to second on a Jack Nally '24 walk. With two outs in the inning, Ernie Little '26 came through with an RBI knock to center field that made it 1-0 Cardinals.
 
Amherst responded in the bottom half, manufacturing a run as Charlie LaFreniere singled to center to lead off the inning. The freshman advanced to second on a wild pitch, then to third on a deep fly out to center, before coming in to score on a sacrifice fly to center.
 
Karabenick continued to deal, allowing just two base runners in his final four innings of work, keeping the game tied heading into extra innings.
 
In that thrilling 10^th inning, Matt Halas '24 was hit by a pitch and later advanced to third, setting the stage for Torino. With two outs, the senior shortstop came through in the clutch, driving an RBI single to center field to bring home the go-ahead run, much to the delight of the Cardinal bench. Evan Diaz '25 then added some insurance as he lifted a two-run bomb over the fence out in right center field that made it 4-1 Wesleyan. Another run came in as Jack Carpenter '25 walked and came all the way around the bases to score on a James Marsden '26 triple, making it 5-1 heading into the bottom half.
 
Throwing in relief of Karabenick, Matt Spada '26 entered in the 10^th and retired the Amherst lineup in-order, sealing a win to open NESCAC play.
 
Karabenick threw nine innings for the first time in his career, passing his eight-inning 11-strikeout performance in a win at Amherst last season that earned him NESCAC Pitcher of the Week honors.
 
Torino, Diaz, and Marsden each finished with two-hit games to lead the Cardinal offense. For Diaz, the two-run shot in the 10^th is his second homer of the season and the fourth of his career. Marsden now has six triples on the season while 12 of his 16 hits in 2024 have gone for extra-bases.
 
Wesleyan is back in action on Saturday at Dresser Diamond with a doubleheader against Amherst with first pitch at Noon.