MIDDLETOWN, CT. – It was a stunning feat at Dresser Diamond on Thursday evening as the Wesleyan baseball team lit up Emerson College with 23 unanswered runs, led by
James Marsden's three triples and a grand slam in a 24-6 triumph after the fifth inning saw 11 total runs from 10 different batters.
James Marsden '26 put on a clinic on Thursday evening. Holding command of an offensive drive that placed the Cardinals on the board two-dozen times, Marsden's play was nothing short of remarkable. Batting in the most runners in recent program memory, Marsden tripled three times before nailing a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning to place 12 of his teammates on home plate. Matt Jeye hit eight RBI in 2018, but Marsden's three triples are the most by a Cardinal dating back to 2012.
The Lions opened the non-conference matchup with a run in the opening inning, but the lead was short lived as
Ernie Little '26 tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Little, who stole four bases during the high-scoring affair, singled to the third basemen to reach on his first at bat of the game but stole both second and third with only one out. Little tied the game at one on a sacrificed fly to left field by
Jonah Timmons '26.
Jumping to a 5-1 lead, the Lions peaked in the third inning, scoring four runs to take a routinely significant lead over the Cardinals. The Cardinals made a pitching change,
Colin Lautzenheiser '28 for
Cole Perkin '28, after the fifth run. With no progress made by the Cardinals, the Lions opened the fourth inning with their final run of the game.
Down 6-1 at the bottom of the fourth,
Troy Ashkinos '28 jumpstarted the 23-run tear with a single to left field.
Evan Diaz '25 was the first base runner for the Cardinals, reaching after he was hit by Russell Silverman and advanced as
Luke LaSaracina '25 was walked. Ashkinos followed LaSaracina, giving enough ground for Diaz to cut the Lions' lead to four. Sandwiched between Ashkinos and Marsden,
Jack Gialanella '27 walked, but as Marsden stepped up to the plate and landed a triple high into right field, LaSaracina, Ashkinos, and Gialanella scored and closed the gap to just one run.
The Cardinals were not done, and Marsden collected his first run of the night as the lineup rotation refreshed, Little grounding out to the short stop as the game was now tied at six. Just as his teammates walked,
Jake Acker '27 was the next to walk and Timmons singled a ball to right field.
Jack Carpenter's '25 ball to the short stop was enough for Acker and Timmons to give the Cardinals their first lead of the game, 8-6.
LaSaracina returned to the plate to begin the 11-run fifth inning for the Cardinals, jumping first on a single to center, stealing second with Ashkinos up to bat. Gialanella walked again and Marsden was ready to score. Marsden hooked his second triple over the Lions' right fielder, giving the Cardinals a 10-6 lead with LaSaracina and Gialanella reaching home. Marsden's second run came at the hands of Little singling to center. Stealing second once again, Little wasted zero time stealing third with Acker on his heels. A sacrificed fly from Carpenter positioned Little to score the run prior to Diaz being walked.
Another lineup rotation saw LaSaracina again at the plate in the fifth inning, Acker scoring after LaSaracina reached first on a wild pitch in which he initially struck out. Diaz and Timmons were greeted with cheers in the dugout, Ashkinos sending Oliver Low's pitch out left and reached second base on the throw.
The fifth-inning finale began with two outs and bases loaded.
Sebastian Ortiz '28 rounded out the base runners, LaSaracina on third and Ashkinos down the middle. Back at the plate, Marsden smashed a grand slam home run high to right center field, propelling the Cardinals to a 19-6 lead as all four batters scored.
Unable to produce any offense, the Lions were a quick out in the sixth and Carpenter was the beginning of the close. Batting a single to center, Carpenter reached and advanced to third only as Diaz cuffed a double down the middle. Sam Hesinger '26 was hit by Shane Moriarty and Ortiz walked, Carpenter scoring as he was forced to home. But, with bases loaded once again, Marsden produced his third and final triple of the evening to center, Diaz, Hensinger, and Ortiz all scoring.
Marsden for his efforts scored the final run of the game, Will Moore '26 hitting a single down the third base line. Marsden's evening closed with four runs, a home run, four hits, 12 RBI, and a .274 batting average.
Joining Marsden, LaSaracina and Diaz each reached home three times. Ashkinos and Carpenter totaled three RBI apiece.
Lautzenheiser earns the win, striking out six while only allowing one run through 4.2 innings. Lautzenheiser finished with a 4.70 ERA.
Lucca Frattone '27 closed the game, allowing just one hit. Perkin struck out two Lions through the opening innings.
The Cardinals return to Dresser Diamond on Friday, April 12, when they host Albertus Magnus beginning at 4 p.m.
