Babson 9, Worcester State 8 - 13 Innings
Babson Park, MA --- Sophomore catcher Sean Cleary (Milton, MA) hit a walk-off single to deep left to score first-year Billy Hocking (Duxbury, MA) from third in the bottom of the 13th inning as the Babson College baseball team claimed a dramatic 9-8 victory over visiting Worcester State College in a non-conference contest at Govoni Field on Sunday afternoon.
It was the 11th straight victory for the Beavers, who improve to 11-2 overall, while the Lancers fall to 10-4-1 with the loss.
With the wind blowing out, the two teams combined for five home runs on the day, including four by Worcester State that accounted for all of the Lancers’ runs. Junior Nick Fluegge (Ware, MA) started things off with a two-run bomb to left in the top of the first for the Lancers – his fourth of the season - but Babson eventually tied it with an unearned run in the bottom of the first and a sacrifice fly to right by senior captain Peter O’Toole (Salem, MA) in the second.
The Lancers once again built a two-run lead in the third, as junior Corey McDonald (Hudson, MA) belted a two-run homer – his first of the spring – over the wall in center to give the visitors a 4-2 advantage. The Beavers got one run back when junior Billy Besinger (Milton, MA) doubled in first-year John Botelho (Tempe, AZ) in the fifth, but Worcester State tacked on three more in the top of the eighth when McDonald doubled, Fluegge walked, and junior Johno Hinkell (North Adams, MA) hit a three-run shot to left for his fourth round-tripper of the year.
Trailing 7-3, Babson staged a dramatic comeback with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, beginning when O’Toole singled and scored on a double to center by Besinger. After a wild pitch and a walk to sophomore Travis Jonasson (Needham, MA) put runners at the corners, senior captain Dave Ahern (Bedford, MA) singled through the left side, scoring Besinger to make it 7-5. First-year Chris Kucher (Westwood, MA) then put the Beavers in front with his second home run in as many days – a three-run blast to left center that gave Babson an 8-7 advantage.
Worcester State once again struck with the longball in the top of the ninth, as junior pinch-hitter Paul Rodriguez (San Antonio, TX) launched his second pinch-hit home run of the season over the wall in left, tying the game at 8-8.
From there both teams’ bullpens would pitch brilliantly, with each holding their opponents scoreless for the next four innings. First-year Brian Swanton (Foxboro, Mass.) and sophomore Pat Doherty (Arlington, MA) each tossed two scoreless innings of relief for Babson, while senior closer Kevin Hayes (Medford, MA) came on for Worcester State with two down in the eighth and kept the Beavers off the board through the 12th.
Babson finally broke through in the bottom of the 13th inning, as Hocking led off with a single to left. Sophomore Billy Miller (Sagamore Beach, MA) followed with a perfect sacrifice bunt that moved Hocking to second, and a balk advanced the winning run to third. That set the stage for Cleary, who ripped a 1-0 pitch over the leftfielder’s head to score Hocking and give the Beavers the 9-8 victory.
Doherty picked up the win for Babson, improving his record to 2-0 on the year. Junior Andrew Aizenstadt (Norwell, MA) started for the Beavers and allowed two runs in the first before giving way to first-year Kyle Lyon (Flemington, NJ), who gave up four runs on three hits, walked two and struck out five in 6 1/3 solid innings of relief. Sophomore Stephen Albano (Amherst, NH) allowed a run and struck out two in 2/3 innings out of the bullpen, and Ahern also pitched an inning for the Beavers, giving up one run.
For Worcester State, Hayes (1-1) suffered his first loss of the year despite allowing just one run in 4 2/3 outstanding innings of relief. First-year Shaun Slattery (Gardner, MA) started and went six strong innings for the Lancers, allowing three runs – two earned – on eight hits, walking four and striking out four. Sophomore Kyle St. Thomas (Bridgewater, MA) tossed a scoreless inning of relief and sophomore Phil Recco (Concord, MA) got two outs in the eighth but surrendered five runs.
Offensively, Jonasson and Cleary both had three hits apiece for Babson, while Besinger added two doubles, two runs, and two RBIs. Kucher drove in three runs with his second homer of the year while Ahern and Miller had two hits each.
McDonald and Fluegge both had two hits, two runs, and two RBIs for Worcester State, while Hinkell drove in three and Rodriguez went 2-for-2 with a run and an RBI.
Weather permitting, the Lancers will entertain Endicott and UMass Boston on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively, at Assumption. Babson plays three straight beginning on Tuesday with Plymouth State, Wentworth and NEWMAC foe Springfield. All contests are slated for 3:30 starts.
Release Courtesy of Babson College Sports Information