MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – A four-run 2^nd inning set the tone and Tanner Mahon '27 tossed a gem on the mound as the Wesleyan baseball team defeated Hamilton 6-3 on Friday in the NESCAC opener for both teams. Wesleyan (6-8, 1-0 NESCAC West) has now won four of the past five meetings with the Continentals (8-6, 0-1 NESCAC West) in Middletown.
 
After Hamilton took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 2^nd, the Cardinals plated four runs in the bottom half, taking advantage of a costly error. Wesleyan loaded the bases on a Luke LaSaracina '25 single through the left side followed by walks from James Marsden '26 and Marcus Jang '26. With one out in the inning, a double play ball hit to shortstop Chester Boynton went through his legs and allowed two runs to score. Ernie Little '26 plated a run on a fielder's choice to shortstop and Jake Acker '27 pilled on the damage as he smashed an RBI double to left that scored Little all the way from first.
 
Mahon worked his way into trouble in the 4^th inning, as the Continentals loaded the bases with one out, but a fielder's choice to third followed by a pop out to first saw Hamilton score just one run, trailing the Cardinals 4-2 after four.
 
Hamilton again left runners on in the 5^th as a single, error and walk with two outs loaded the bases for Gianni DiCerbo who Mahon got to strikeout to end the inning and keep the two-run lead intact.
 
The Cardinals got some breathing room in the bottom of the 5^th when Marsden lofted a two-out, two-run double to left field that scored Connor Sullivan '26 and Evan Diaz '25, giving Wesleyan a 6-2 advantage.
 
Mahon again worked a scoreless inning, stranding multiple Continental baserunners in the 7^th inning as the sophomore got Ethan Rigther to look at strike three before Greg Kopp grounded out to second to strand runners on first and third.
 
Hamilton loaded the bases in the 8^th inning as Cole Perkin '28 came on at the start of the frame to relieve Mahon. The Continentals had already plated one run in the inning but Perkin had two outs and escaped further damage with a fly out to left from Righter to keep Wesleyan's 6-3 lead intact.
 
Perkin came back on in the 9^th inning and after back-to-back line outs to Jack Carpenter '25 at shortstop, he got Henry Boehm to strike out looking to end the game.
 
Both teams struggled with timely hitting, as Hamilton left 12 runners on-base while Wesleyan stranded 10 in the nine-inning game.
 
Mahon battled all game and went seven innings, the longest appearance of his career, allowing just four hits and two runs (one earned) with four strikeouts. Perkin then closed the door with two innings of relief, allowing one run and three strikeouts. The duo combined to allow seven hits, none of which went for extra bases.
 
Marsden reached base in three of his four plate appearances, going 1-for-2 with one double, 2 RBI, two walks, and one run scored. Jang doubled while Jonah Timmons '27 walked twice.
 
The two sides are back in action again on Saturday with a doubleheader on Dresser Diamond beginning at Noon.