Middletown, Conn. -- The Amherst College baseball team used two seven-run innings Friday afternoon en route to a season-high 17 runs to take the opener of its three-game series with Wesleyan, 17-9, at the Cardinals' Dresser Diamond.
With the win, the Mammoths improved to 12-12 on the season, 4-2 in the NESCAC West. The Cardinals fell to 9-17 overall, 2-5 in divisional play. The two teams are back at it tomorrow for a Senior Day doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Amherst's Memorial Field.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
* Amherst scored seven times in the top of the first and never looked back, although the Cardinals closed to within two runs on a couple of occasions.
* After an out,
Jack McDermott ignited the whole day with a home run to right field, his first of the season.
Jack Sampedro was hit by a pitch prior to
Tyler McCord ripping a double to right field.
Charlie LaFreniere was walked to load the bases and
Ryan McIntyre was then hit with a pitch to force home a run for a 2-0 lead.
Leo Foust reached on an error that scored McCord and
Ben Smith ripped a single to left for an RBI that made it 4-0.
* Bases-loaded walks to
Aiden Dubetsky and
Jack Boyle continued the inning and forced home two more runs and McDemott brought home the seventh and final run of the inning with a fielder's choice.
* Leading 7-4, the Mammoths added a run in the top of the third when McIntyre singled, stole second and scored on an RBI-single from Boyle.
* Righthander
Nick Fassert got the start for the Mammoths and went the first 5 1/3 frames, allowing six runs and leaving with an 8-6 lead.
Walker Dellinger came on with runners on first and second and one out in the bottom of the sixth and retired the next two hitters to end the threat.
* Amherst added two more runs in the top of the seventh to take a 10-6 lead. Dubetsky dropped down a beautiful squeeze bunt to score one run and Boyle lined another RBI-single just over shortstop for the four-run advantage.
* The Cardinals closed to within 10-8 in the bottom of the eighth and Sampedro replaced Dellinger with a run in, the bases loaded and no outs. Sampedro induced a sacrifice fly then retired the next to batters to preserve the two-run lead.
* His teammates made it a moot point with another seven-run inning that featured an RBI-triple by McDermott.
BY THE NUMBERS:
* Amherst had 13 hits and drew 11 walks. Boyle was 2 for 4 with 4 RBI. McCord was 3 for 6 with 2 runs scored. McDermott was 2 for 5 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored wit a triple and home run.
Ben Smith was 2 for 6 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored.
* Fassert picked up the win t improve to 3-2 while Sampedro pitched two scoreless innings to record his fourth save.
