WILLIAMSTOWN, MA. – Following a five-run opener, the Wesleyan baseball team managed to keep Williams College at arm's length for six innings thanks to the efforts of four combined home runs from
Connor Sullivan '26 and
Evan Diaz '25, but after a double RBI gave Williams the lead, Sullivan's ninth inning home run could only bring Wesleyan within one as the team fell 15-14 on Friday evening from Williams' Bobby Coombs Field.
Sullivan was the hero of the opening inning, giving the Cardinals (10-20 overall, 2-8 NESCAC West) a four-run lead as he nailed a grand-slam drive over the fence at Coombs field.
Jack Carpenter '25 was the first baserunner of the afternoon, reaching second on a double down the right field line.
Tyler Cosgrove '25 and
Jonah Timmons '27 walked leading up to Sullivan's first at bat of the game. Not to be outdone, Diaz put a second pitch into the outfield for his first of two home runs. The Ephs (14-13 overall, 7-3 NESCAC West) cut the lead to three runs, scoring two in the bottom of the inning.
Picking up just one more run in the second, the Ephs were unable to catch the Cardinals just yet as the Cardinals bumped the score again in the third. Timmons reached after taking the hit by pitch call, scoring with Sullivan doubling to center field. An error at third base placed Sullivan at third before he scored on Diaz' sacrificed fly. Closing the inning,
James Marsden '26 gave the Cardinals an 8-3 lead with another home run.
The Ephs gained two runs prior to the fifth inning, but the Cardinals held the advantage with Diaz and Sullivan scoring again. Sullivan put a double out into center field, advancing on a balk to third. Diaz homered down into left field to put both at home plate. Facing the bottom of the sixth inning, the Ephs stole their first lead of the game, beginning the action with three runs on a double by Ryan Nakajima due to errors at short stop and at home plate. Henry Juan scored the tying run at 10 leading James O'Connor to the leading run at 11.
Diaz opened the eighth inning with a walk, reaching third three batters later when
Jake Acker '27 doubled to left field. Putting a pitch down the middle,
Ernie Little '26 gave Diaz and Acker room to take back the Cardinals' lead. The lead, however, was short lived as another four runs by the Ephs was the undoing of the game.
A last-ditch effort in the final inning was put into action by Sullivan putting his second home run of the evening into center field to move Timmons home in front of him, bringing the final tally to just one run, 15-14.
Sullivan led all Cardinals with four runs and seven RBI. Diaz scored three runs while batting in four runners. Timmons totaled three runs and just one hit.
Shamus Kelly '28 takes the loss, pitching just over two innings while marking three strikeouts and four earned runs.
Colin Lautzenheiser '28 started the game, pitching four innings, allowing five runs.
The Cardinals will face Williams again on Sunday, April 27, in an afternoon double header at home to celebrate the Class of 2025 with action beginning at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
