WILLIMANTIC, Conn. -- The Amherst College baseball team fell just short Wednesday night, falling 9-8 to regional rival Eastern Connecticut State University.
The Mammoths fell to 17-8 on the season while EConn improved to 20-8-1. Amherst next plays at Little 3 and NESCAC West Division rival Williams Friday at 4 p.m.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
* Amherst quickly erased a 1-0 deficit wen it erupted for eight runs in the top of the fourth.
Ben Smith led off and reached on an error.
Carson Ames grounded a single through te right side of the infield.
Jackson Boyer tied the game at 1-1 with an RBI-single to center.  After an out,
Tyler McCord beat out an infield single to load the bases.
Charlie LaFreniere then ripped a base-clearing, three-run double down the left-field line to give Amherst a 4-1 lead.
* The uprising continued with two outs when
Jack Darcy hit an RBI-single to left to score LaFreniere.
Aiden Dubetsky singled to center and Smith had an RBI-double to center that made it 6-1. Ames lined a two-run single to right to cap the frame and leave Amherst with an 8-1 lead.Â
*
Zander Carnahan opened the top of the ninth with a single to left and pinch-hitter
Yoon Chae dropped down a nice sacrifice bunt to move him to second. Dubetsky drew a walk, but EConn reliever Stephen Rickert fanned the next two batters to end the game.Â
BY THE NUMBERS:
* Amherst out hit its hosts, 13-12. LaFreniere was 3 for 5 with 3 RBIs. Ames went 2 for 5 with 2 RBIs. Carnahan was 2 for 3 and Boyer 2 for 4 with an RBI.
*
Liam Lennon got the start for Amherst and went the first two frames, not allowing a hit, walk or earned run.
Nico Stefanoni went 1 1/3 of scoreless relief and
Walker Dellinger and
Matt Tabet each tossed one scoreless frame of relief.Â
