Local Players Star as Wheaton College Baseball Sweeps Doubleheader

The Wheaton College baseball team, ranked No.10 overall in the latest D3baseball.com national poll, swept a pair of New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) games against Babson College on Saturday afternoon at Sidell Stadium. The Lyons won game one, 11-2 (seven innings) and posted an 8-3 triumph in the nightcap.

 Wheaton 11, Babson 2 (seven innings)

 Junior Alec Palioca of Wrentham and King Philip Regional went the distance in game one for Wheaton allowing five hits, two runs (both earned), three walks and a season-high nine strikeouts.

In the opener, freshman Matt Lavanchy of Walpole drove in a run with a double to right field in the second inning as Wheaton jumped out to a 2-0 lead. 

Wheaton senior Sean Ryan of Norton ripped a two-run single to left field to highlight the scoring.

Wrentham freshman Jared Clement, who pitched at St. Sebastian's, is 2-0 on the season as a starting pitcher.

Wheaton 8, Babson 3

Junior closer Ryan Grant pitched a scoreless ninth inning in the win.  

Senior Brian Swanton of Foxborough took the loss in game two on four innings pitched, four hits, three runs (two earned) and five walks.

Canton's Trevor Boyce, who went to Catholic Memorial, scored in the top of the first inning, racing home from second base on a single.

In the bottom of the second inning, Lavanchy used his speed to score on an inside-the-park homer to center to give Wheaton a 2-1 lead. 

In the two-game set, Lavanchy hit for the cycle, compiled a .667 (4-for-6) batting average, scored three runs and drove in five. The Lyons pitching staff posted a 2.81 earned run average (ERA), held the top hitting team in the NEWMAC to a .246 batting average – .71 points lower than their season average – and registered a 3.8 strikeout-to-walk ratio (15/4).

Wheaton (12-5, 6-0 NEWMAC) takes on WPI Tuesday, April 2 at Worcester State University for a NEWMAC contest scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The Lyons defeated the Beavers, 5-4, yesterday to take the regular season series. Babson (7-7, 2-4 NEWMAC) visits MIT Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.