Wesleyan baseball returned to its winning ways last weekend, winning two of three against Little Three rival Amherst as conference play commenced across the NESCAC. Right fielder Brice Kelly ’10 was rewarded for his role in the week’s efforts, earning NESCAC Player of the Week honors.
A day after opening their northern schedule with a 9-2 victory at Coast Guard last Thursday, the Cardinals suffered a setback when they dropped the series opener at Amherst. The Lord Jeffs, playing under their first new head coach since 1966, held Wesleyan to only three runs and posted three of their own to break an eighth-inning deadlock, securing a 6-3 victory. Wesleyan starter Mike Barsotti ’12 pitched well, limiting the Lord Jeff lineup to eight hits, but ultimately fell victim to wildness, hitting two batters in Amherst’s game-winning eighth inning. Despite taking the loss, Barsotti pitched all eight innings on Friday, preserving the Wesleyan bullpen for the weekend.
The next day Amherst made the trip down I-91 for a doubleheader on a chilly Andrus Field. The cold weather might have led to a low-scoring affair, but both teams combined for 10 runs in a wild first inning. Brett Yarusi ’12 began the festivities by plunking the first Amherst batter of the game, who later scored on a double steal. Yarusi allowed only one hit in the first inning, but still yielded four runs as Wesleyan gave away free bases through a throwing error, a wild pitch, and the aforementioned hit batsman.
The Cards battled right back in the bottom of the first, with Kyle Weiss ’12 and Julian Sonnenfeld ’11 working walks off of Amherst starter Ryan Healy. Up with two on and two out, Kelly smacked a double, bringing home Weiss and Sonnenfeld and sparking a six-run two-out nightmare for Amherst. In an unusual turn of events, Ryan Coffey ’11 came in to pinch-hit in the first inning for Brandyn Cooper ’12, who had doubled at Amherst the day before. The gamble paid off as Coffey shot a two-run single to opposite field, tying the score and extending the inning.
Wesleyan never looked back after the first inning as Yarusi settled down and cruised to his third victory of the young season, sticking mainly to his fastball against the Amherst batters’ cold hands.
“Initially, the weather’s not something you’re totally used to,” said Kelly, who is from Texas, “but it’s just one of things you have to deal with. You watch your teammates deal with the cold, learn from them, and adjust.”
It didn’t take long for Kelly to adjust to baseball in the northeast this year. After a slow start to the season, the NESCAC Player of the Week has raked eight hits with nine RBIs in 17 at-bats since returning to Connecticut.
“I appreciate the honor, but I also see it more of a team honor,” said Kelly. “It’s a lot easier to hit when you have guys in front of you in the order getting on base, and guys behind you who can pick you up. Additionally, from an offensive standpoint, there’s a lot less pressure when Barsotti, Yarusi, and Lukin are throwing unbelievably well.”
Indeed, Derek Lukin ’13 is throwing unbelievably well, and after going the distance against Redlands University in his last start, picked right up where he left off against Amherst.
The freshman southpaw, with a near carbon-copy delivery of 2009 ace Dusty Mones, scattered seven hits and held the Lord Jeffs to three runs. Amherst starter Dylan Joyce also pitched well, keeping the Cards off of the scoreboard until the fifth inning, when Weiss singled home Jeff Bizinkauskas ’10 and Alex Meadow ’12 followed with a two-run triple.
Another freshman stole the show on Saturday along with Lukin. Shortstop Chris Bonti ’13 chased Joyce from the game in the bottom of the sixth with a three-run bomb to left that proved to be the winning margin. However, Bonti wasn’t finished just yet.
When reliever James Hounsell ’11 got into trouble early in the ninth, Bonti moved from shortstop to the mound. After surrendering a single, Bonti rolled a double play to stifle a late comeback bid by the Lord Jeffs, earning him the save as the Cardinals iced a 6-3 win.
“Every one of the guys has the ability to step up and has proven themselves able to do that,” said Kelly when asked about Bonti. “Our goals are to win the Little Three and the NESCAC, and make it to the NCAA tournament.”
In order to do that, Wesleyan needs to sweep this weekend’s series against Middlebury.
“They have a team that will surprise, and has surprised their opponents,” said Kelly about the Midd Kids, who took a game from reigning NESCAC West champion Williams last weekend. “We just need to stay focused and we’ will be fine.”