Baseball Falls to Wheaton, 6-2, at New England Regional

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MANSFIELD, Mass. – Senior Hal Landers (Salem, N.H.) went 4-for-5 including a pair of extra base hits and four RBI as top-seed Wheaton College posted a 6-2 triumph over eighth seeded Bridgewater State University in the opening round of the 2012 NCAA Division III New England Regional Tournament on Wednesday afternoon at Eastern Baseball Stadium.

Wheaton found success in the bottom of the second, despite both squads leaving a total of 11 runners on base over the first three innings, as Landers began his day with an RBI single to left field.

The Lyons added a pair of runs to their lead in the bottom of the sixth. Junior Dan Gusovsky (Andover, Mass.) laid down a bunt which was misplayed to help one base runner to score. Later in the frame, Landers legged out a single to collect his second RBI of the day.

Bridgewater responded in the top of the seventh as junior Tory Buck (Shelburne Falls, Mass.) delivered a two-out RBI single to left which plated Trevor Lawson (Easton, Mass.) who had reached on a fielder's choice.  A Lyon miscue later in the frame helped another Bear base runner to score to trim the deficit to 3-2.

Wheaton tacked on three big insurance runs in the eighth to take a 6-2 lead.  With runners at the corners and one out, junior Justin Connor (Arlington, Mass.) plated the first run of the frame on an RBI bunt single on a 2-2 pitch.  Landers then followed with a two-run triple down the right field line.

For the game, Bridgewater State stranded 16 base runners while the Lyons left nine runners on.  The Bears went 2-for-19 at the plate with runners in scoring position.

Freshman Apolinar De la Cruz (Providence, R.I.) joined Landers with a pair of hits while Gusovsky crossed home plate twice for the Lyons.

Buck went 3-for-5 with an RBI as senior Ian Williams (Taunton, Mass.) and junior Keane Costa (Fairhaven, Mass.) each had two hits for Bridgewater State.  As a team, the Bears banged out ten hits in the contest, were issued six free passes and plunked twice.

Junior Frank Holbrook (Middletown, R.I.) remains undefeated (8-0) as he earned the win tossing a scoreless five frames despite walking six batters.  Holbrook allowed five hits and fanned three.  Sophomore Ryan Grant (Easton, Mass.) collected his tenth save in 1.2 innings of work.

Senior Corey Batista (Fall River, Mass.) went 7.1 innings in the setback.  Batista (7-4) surrendered five runs – four earned – on eight hits and struck out four.

Both teams continue regional play tomorrow as Wheaton (35-8) squares off with Western New England University at 4:30 p.m.  Bridgewater State (30-14) faces Keene State College in a 10:00 a.m. elimination bracket tilt.  Western New England downed Keene, 7-1, in the opening game of the double-elimination tournament.