April 10, 2002
AMHERST, MA – For the second time this season, the Amherst College baseball team defeated an opponent ranked in the top-five nationally, surprising visiting fifth-ranked Eastern Connecticut State University, 5-2, Wednesday afternoon at Memorial Field. The Jeffs, who evened their record at 10-10, have played four ranked teams this season, including a season-opening 5-4 victory over then third-ranked Ohio Wesleyan University on March 16.
Amherst got all the offense it would need in the first inning, torching Eastern Connecticut State junior starter Tim Fagan (Danbury, CT) for five earned runs on four hits. Junior designated hitter Devin Haran (Basking Ridge, NJ) drew first blood with a bases loaded walk, scoring classmate John Schneider (Grand Rapids, MI), who reached with a single. Senior first baseman Jim Hochrein (Greenfield, MA) followed with a two-run double down the right-field line, and senior catcher J.R. Drabick (Lebanon, NH) capped the rally with a two-run single, driving in Hochrein and senior second baseman John Brody (Baltimore, MD).
Fagan never made it out of the opening frame, giving way to sophomore reliever Jeremy Hall (Northfield, VT) with two outs in the first inning. Hall pitched 5.1 innings of shutout relief. Matt Schumey (Rockville, CT) then pitched the eighth inning, while Steve Libera (Cromwell, CT) took the mound in the ninth.
In the meantime, Amherst sophomore starter Andy Kerns (Barrington, IL) surrendered just five hits and one run on a bases loaded walk, striking out five batters in five complete innings. Sophomore right-hander Duncan Webb (Lynn, MA) entered the game in the sixth, gave up a two-out RBI single to junior second baseman Morgan Thompson (Norwalk, CT), and cruised the rest of the way en route to his second save of the season. Kerns upped his record to 2-2 with the win.
Schneider, Hochrein, Drabick and sophomore third baseman Matt Potter (Durham, NC), who entered the game with a team-high .500 batting average, each finished with two hits for Amherst. Thompson paced Eastern Connecticut State (18-5-1) with a pair of singles.
Amherst returns to action Saturday at 1 p.m. at non-league foe Brandeis University.
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