BABSON PARK, Mass.—Senior Nick Ahearn (Norfolk, Mass.) tossed a complete-game shutout in game one and first-year Daniel Cooney (Verona, N.J.) gave up just two hits over four scoreless innings out of the bullpen in game two as Babson College swept visiting Springfield College in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) baseball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Govoni Field. The Beavers took the opener 3-0 behind Ahearn's gem, and then edged the Pride, 5-3, to finish off the sweep.

Babson, which has won four straight games and is unbeaten in its last eight contests, is 9-3-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play. Springfield falls to 6-6-1 overall and 0-2 in the NEWMAC.

Junior Jack Halpin (Glastonbury, Conn.) went 2-for-3 and scored a run, while classmate Jake Weiss (Irvine, Calif.) finished 2-for-3 with an RBI in the opening game of the day for the Beavers. Ahearn gave up just five hits and walked one while striking out five to earn the second shutout and third complete game of his career.

The Green and White left runners on base in each of the first three innings before finally breaking the scoreless deadlock with a pair of runs in the fifth. First-year Edward Lehr (Byram Township, Pa.) led off with a single and scored one batter later when the Pride made two errors on first-year Brian McHale's (Ramsey, N.J.) sacrifice bunt. McHale, who reached third on the play, raced home on Weiss' infield single to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.

The Beavers loaded the bases in the sixth as Halpin led off with a single, sophomore Mark Webber (Norwell, Mass.) walked and junior Owen Shea (Northborough, Mass.) followed with a single. Senior George Crowley (Watertown, Mass.) gave Babson some breathing room as his sacrifice fly to right field plated Halpin for a three-run advantage.

Springfield, which had just two runners reach second base against Ahearn, stranded four runners over the final three innings.

Senior Ben Bohlke (Nanuet, N.Y.) dropped to 1-1 on the year for the Pride after giving up two earned runs on eight hits and two walks over 6.2 innings.

The Green and White wasted little time jumping on top on game two with a three-run second inning. After Springfield senior Dan Green (Oakland, N.J.) recorded two quick outs, the Beavers loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a walk. Weiss earned a bases-loaded walk to force in McHale, and Halpin came through with a two-run single that plated sophomore Adam Ayala (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) and first-year Connor Gill (Sterling, Mass.) for a 3-0 lead.

Junior JP Peters (Guilford, Conn.) smacked a two-out, two-run double to left to help the Pride cut its deficit to 3-2 in the top of the third. Senior Billy Peterson (West Wareham, Mass.) started the top of the fifth with a walk and then came around to tie the game on a two-out knock to left by sophomore Peter Marsicano (Allentown, N.J.).

Babson went back in front for good in the sixth though, as Ayala reached on a two-out infield single, stole second and then came home on Gill's single up the middle. The Beavers tacked on an insurance run an inning later when Webber raced home on first-year Eric Jaun's (Loveland, Ohio) sacrifice fly to short center to make it 5-3.

Cooney (3-0) struck out four over four innings in relief of sophomore Teddy Carey (Upton, Mass.), who allowed three runs on two hits and six walks. Fellow sophomore Matt Cuneo (Ashland, Mass.) struck out two and worked around an error to earn his third save of the year with a scoreless ninth inning.

Ayala went 2-for-2 at the dish with two walks, two runs scored and two stolen bases to lead the Green and White. Halpin added a pair of hits, while Gill extended his hitting streak to 12 with his second-inning single.

Peters finished 2-for-4 for Springfield, while Green (2-1) suffered the loss after allowing four earned runs on six hits and five walks over 5.2 innings.

Babson returns to action on Monday when it travels to Johnson & Wales at 3:30 p.m., while Springfield heads to MIT on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.

GAME NOTES
• Babson is now 29-20 all-time against Springfield and has swept the season series in each of the last three seasons.
• The Beavers' bullpen has now allowed just one earned run over the last 22 innings.