MIDDLETOWN, CT. – Opening NESCAC play on the road, the Wesleyan University baseball team took a 14-4 hit from Amherst College on Friday afternoon in the first of the three-game series, falling following a six-run opening inning at Amherst's Memorial Field.

Poised with a two-run lead at the top of the game, the Cardinals' (4-11 overall, 0-1 NESCAC) success took a major hit at the bottom of the inning following the 11-2 Mammoths first attempt from the plate. After reaching on a single to centerfield, the Cardinals sent Tucker DeWolf '28 home as Jonah Timmons '27 grounded into a double play to the short stop. William Moore '26 hit third on the play and scored his own run with Sam Hensinger '26 up to bat.

The Mammoths answered with six runs, none of which were home runs, and took the four-run lead before plating another run in the second after the Cardinals struck out. With the Mammoths climbing to eight runs after three, the Cardinals managed to cut the lead to five after Jake Acker '27 was walked and reached third on an error at short stop. Acker's run was recorded as Moore was hit by Nick Fassert.

Opening the fifth inning with an eight-run margin, the Mammoths forced a pitching change for the Cardinals, relieving Cole Perkin '28 for Tanner Mahon '27. The Mammoths plated three more runs before the Cardinals returned a fourth run in the seventh. Timmons walked, advancing to third on Hensinger's ball to right field and scored with Acker's sacrificed fly out left to end the game after seven innings.

Perkin pitched just over three innings, dropping 11 runs as he walked three and struck out three. Mahon cleared one inning with a run and two walks. Ben Bryant '29 closed, allowing one run as he struck out just one batter.

The Cardinals return to action on Sunday, March 29, when they face Amherst again in a double header at home beginning at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.