WATERVILLE, ME. – Squeaking into the NESCAC Championships as the No. 4 in the West, the Wesleyan baseball team saw the road to a conference title come to an end as the dropped a doubleheader to No. 1 Colby in a best of three series on Saturday, falling 0-2 in game one and 3-5 in game two while on the road at Coombs Field.
Game one was eight innings of scoreless action. The Mules managed to plate two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, but from start to finish it was
David Tirrell and Ryan Grecco on the mound that saw the most time. Tirrell pitched eight innings, allowing the game-winning runs and 12 hits by the Mules. Tirrell struck out just two. Grecco struck out five Cardinals with only
Jack Carpenter,
Tyler Cosgrove, and
James Marsden registering hits.
Attempting a comeback in game two to try and tie the series up, the Cardinals took an early two-run lead in the second inning.
Connor Sullivan homered to the left field fence to finally get the Cardinals on the board on the second at bat.
Evan Diaz followed, nailing a double down the left field line, advancing on a passed ball. Diaz' chase for home plate was the result of a ground out down the middle by
Luke LaSaracina.
With Marsden on the mound for game two, the Cardinals held off the Mules until the bottom of the third, cutting the Cardinals' lead in half. Diaz scored his second run of the game at the top of the fourth, reaching as he singled out to right center. Rounding third with
Luke LaSaracina on his heels with a double to left field, Diaz scored after a pitching change on an error during
Ernie Little's turn at home plate.
Following a pitching change for the Cardinals with
Shamus Kelly now in for Marsden, the Mules cut the score again in the bottom half of the inning before a double in the fifth gave them the runs they needed to sweep the series from the Cardinals.
Kelly takes the loss, pitching just over two innings. Kelly struck out one, allowing two runs.
Kevin Brown was the closer, striking out two. Marsden allowed two runs.
The Cardinals end the season 11-24 overall and close the NESCAC 2-10.