MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Coming off a doubleheader sweep wherein Wesleyan outscored Williams 34-1 in the two games, the Ephs flipped the script in the weekend series finale on Sunday, defeating the Cardinals 11-5 from Dresser Diamond. Wesleyan (15-4, 4-2 NESCAC West) still sits atop the NESCAC West Division standings while the Ephs (6-11, 1-2 NESCAC West) claim their first league win of the season.
 
After back-to-back games without an error, Wesleyan suffered through six errors in Sunday's nine-inning contest, leading to seven unearned runs. The Ephs took full advantage of the miscues, totaling 15 hits (all singles) which is just one off Williams' season-high.
 
Wesleyan's starting pitcher David Tirrell '25 worked out of trouble in three straight innings to begin play, holding Williams to no runs even though the Ephs had at least one runner in scoring position in each frame.
 
The Cardinal offense came to life in the 3^rd inning as Ernie Little '26 smacked a triple to right field that scored Jack Nally '24 and Matt Halas '24, putting Wesleyan ahead 2-0 after three.
 
Tirrell stranded two more base runners in the 4^th inning, but the 5^th was unkind to the Cardinals as Wesleyan committed fielding errors on three straight at-bats, all of which coming with two outs. After the third straight error, the Ephs had only scored one run, but then Mike Giove made the Cardinals pay with a two-run single to right that gave Williams a 3-2 lead.
 
Wesleyan had a big chance to retake the lead in the bottom of the 5^th, as the bases were loaded with two outs. Cole Torino '24 drew a walk to bring home Luke LaSaracina '25 from third, but Evan Diaz '24 struck out swinging to end the inning with the score tied 3-3.
 
A three-run 6^th inning put Williams ahead 6-3 as the Ephs took advantage of another Cardinal error, generating four base hits that led to the big inning.
 
The Ephs started to pull away with another two runs in the 7^th inning, taking an 8-3 lead into the 8^th. The Cardinals' best chance came in the bottom of the 8^th as Wesleyan had two runners in scoring position with no outs. Both those runs ultimately came home, one on an RBI groundout and the other on a sacrifice fly to left, lowering the deficit to 8-5.
 
Three runs was as close as Wesleyan would get to the lead for the remainder of play, however, as Williams scored three more in the 9^th before shutting the door in the bottom half on a 11-5 win.
 
Tirrell finished with 5.1 innings, allowing three earned runs with two strikeouts. Matt Spada '26 entered in relief and went 3.1 innings with just one earned run allowed while striking out three.
 
The Cardinals are back at home on Tuesday at 4 PM against Westfield State.