Baseball Falls to Wheaton, 13-3

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Wheaton College baseball team scored in each of the first seven innings as the visiting Lyons cruised to a 13-3 victory over Bridgewater State University on Tuesday afternoon at Alumni Park.

The Lyons improve to 3-5 on the season as they snapped a five-game losing streak, while the Bears fall to 7-5. Wheaton holds a 24-11 advantage in the all-time series which dates back to 1999.

The win marked the 700th in the 25-year coaching career of Wheaton skipper Eric Podbelski. Podbelski has produced an overall record of 700-293 (.705) since starting the Lyons' baseball program in 1998.

Senior righthander Gavin Reily (Bridgewater, Mass.) tossed five shutout innings to pick up his first win of the season. Reily (1-1) allowed two hits and two walks while striking out six.

Wheaton banged out 13 hits in the contest. The Lyons were also issued 12 walks and hit by a pitch three times.

Junior third baseman Nick Croteau (Cumberland R.I.) went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, two walks, a run and three runs batted to lead the Wheaton offensive attack. Freshman first baseman Anthony Teberio (Andover, Mass.) reached safely five times as he singled and walked four times in six plate appearances. Teberio scored two runs and drove in two. Freshman designated hitter Kevin Matos (Lawrence, Mass.) finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a hit by pitch, run and two RBI, while junior shortstop Cavan Brady (Great Barrington, Mass.) singled twice in four at bats, walked, was hit by a pitch, and scored a pair of runs.

Junior first baseman Dan Saraceno (Mansfield, Mass.) went 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles, a run and an RBI to pace Bridgewater's eight-hit attack. Senior designated hitter Jonathan O'Donnell (Hull, Mass.) and sophomore third baseman Kyle Suraci (Clinton, Conn.) each reached safely three times in four trips to the plate. O'Donnell was hit by a pitch twice and knocked in a run with an RBI single, while Suraci went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks.

The Bears scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the ninth inning on back-to-back RBI doubles by sophomore right fielder Jay Wladkowski (Norwood, Mass.) and Saraceno followed by an RBI single off the bat of O'Donnell.

Three Bridgewater State pitchers combined to give up 13 runs (ten earned) on 13 hits and 12 walks with six strikeouts. Junior righthander Jake Graham (East Bridgewater, Mass.) tossed two scoreless innings of relief as he worked around a hit and three walks while striking out one.

In upcoming action, the Bears travel to Curry College on Wednesday afternoon for a three o'clock game with the Colonels while the Lyons entertain UMass Dartmouth on Thursday afternoon at 3:30.