BOX
SCORE
BABSON PARK, Mass. -- The Babson College baseball team recorded
its biggest win of the season on Friday, as the Beavers knocked off
nationally-ranked archrival Wheaton College, 6-3, in a NEWMAC
matchup at Govoni Field. With the victory, Babson improved to 16-14
overall and 6-6 in the conference. Wheaton, which entered the game
ranked first in New England and third in the country, fell to 25-5
overall and 9-1 in the NEWMAC.
Senior Matt Barton was outstanding on the mound
for the Beavers, going 7 2/3 innings and allowing just two runs on
six hits, walking one and striking out four. The win improved his
season record to 3-1. Senior Chris Legrow came out
of the bullpen to get the final four outs, giving up one run and
striking out two.
Offensively, Babson received another huge effort from sophomore
Billy Besinger, who went 4-for-5 with a run and
two RBIs. It was the second baseman's team-leading 15th multi-hit
game of the season, and his third four-hit performance. First-year
Sean Cleary also added three hits and two runs
scored for the Beavers, senior captain Bryan Evans
recorded two hits, and sophomore Corey Highfield
chipped in with a huge two-run double in the second.
Babson never trailed in the contest, scoring four runs in the
first two innings against Wheaton starter Adam Gingras. Besinger
got things started in the first when he tripled to left center and
scored on a sacrifice fly by first-year Travis
Jonasson for the game's first run. Then in the second, a
key Wheaton error brought Highfield to the plate with two on and
two outs, and the second-year shortstop took advantage by drilling
a two-run double into the gap in left center to give his team a 3-0
cushion. Two batters later, Besinger singled to center, plating
Highfield with the Beavers' fourth run.
Wheaton cut its deficit in half in the top of the sixth, scoring
a pair of runs off Barton. However, Babson's third doubleplay of
the afternoon limited the damage, and the Beavers came right back
in the bottom of the inning as junior Peter
O'Toole reached on an error, moved to third on another hit
by Besinger, and scored on Jonasson's second sac fly of the day.
The Beavers struck again in the bottom of the seventh, as Cleary
led off with his third hit of the game and later scored on a
two-out, bases loaded single by Besinger to make it 6-2. Wheaton
got one final run on a solo homer by Jeff Lieneck in the ninth, but
Legrow got the final two outs with the tying run at the plate to
secure the 6-3 Babson victory.
Gingras suffered just his second loss of the season for Wheaton,
dropping his record to 4-2. In 5 1/3 innings he allowed five runs -
only one of which was earned - on 10 hits, walked one and fanned
four.
