Courtesy of Wheaton College Sports Information

NORTON, Mass. – The Amherst College baseball team claimed a 5-3 non-conference win in 10 inninings Thursday evening against Wheaton College at Sidell Stadium. 

Amherst sophomore reliever Chris Baldi earned the win (1-1) on two-thirds of an inning, on two hits and one strikeout. First-year Sam Schneider locked down his first collegiate save with a deep line out to right center and a foul out to the third baseman in the tenth.

Sophomore starter Jackson Volle received the no-decision on 8.2 innings pitched, six hits, three runs (two earned), three walks and a game-high six strikeouts.

Wheaton first-year reliever Chris Fowler was tagged with the loss (0-1) on two-thirds of an inning, three hits, two runs, two walks and a strikeout. The Lyons used nine pitchers in total in the matchup. Six of those relievers did not allow a run, which was highlighted by sophomore Jack Fant's two shutout innings (fourth and fifth).

Tied 3-3 in the top of the tenth, the Jeffs rallied for a pair of runs with two outs in the frame to claim the victory.

Senior Brendon Hardin kept the inning alive with a hard-hit double down the left field line. Classmate Tyler Jacobs took the first two pitches he saw in the next at-bat and eventually was intentionally walked by Wheaton to set up a force at any base.

First-year Sam Ellinwood followed with a ground ball between short and third base, but Lyons' sophomore shortstop Joshua LaJoie made a fantastic diving stop in the hole to keep Hardin from scoring the go-ahead run.

First-year Harry Roberson then came through with the big hit for Amherst, a two-run single through the left side, in the next at-bat to take a 5-3 lead.

After Fowler issued a walk to junior Andrew Vandini, Wheaton junior Mike Koperniak shut down any chance of more runs for the Jeffs with a pop up to Peluso at second base.

In the bottom of the tenth, De La Cruz put a jolt into a fastball in the left center gap with runners on first and second and one out, but Jacobs tracked down the potential line drive double to maintain the two-run advantage. Schneider then induced a foul to third to end the game.

Wheaton struck for one run in the first as junior Justin Silvestro lifted a sacrifice fly to right field. Amherst countered with a solo run in the third on an RBI bunt single off the bat of junior Mike Odenwaelder. 

The Lyons went on to score one run in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, before Amherst mounted its comeback win.

In the fourth, Silvestro stole home on a failed squeeze play, while Lavanchy scolded an RBI single to right center in the fifth.