Two batters shatter University records

The baseball team finished the season with a 12-6 victory at Hamilton on Sunday, a make-up of a game that got rained out on April 13.

Drew Dominguez ’09 and Captain Chris Simpson ’08 took full advantage of the make-up game, each setting single season Wesleyan records in their final at-bats.

Dominguez led off with a single, his fourth hit of the game and 56th of the year, breaking the all time single season hits record. The hit came in his 155th at-bat, also a Wesleyan single season record. With 368 career at-bats, Dominguez could make a run at the career at-bats record of 504, held by Jeffrey Maier ’06.

Three batters later, Simpson hit his ninth homerun of the year, breaking the mark of eight that has been tied twice since it was set by Frank Barrett ’87 in the 1987 season. The at-bat came in the ninth inning, after Simpson had already walked, singled, lined out and been hit by a pitch two times in the ballgame.

The victory was the 16th of the season for Wesleyan; the most games the team has won since going 17-14 in 2003. The win also moved the team to 6-6 in the NESCAC West, marking the first time they have finished at or above .500 since 2005.

The win came a day after the team took on Trinity in a doubleheader. The Bantams came into the game as the last undefeated team in Division III at 32-0, ranked #2 nationally, just one point in the poll behind #1 ranked Chapman University.

The Cardinals struck first in both games, scoring one run in the bottom of the first each time out. However the powerhouse Trinity proved to be too much for the Cardinals, breaking out for 14 runs over the final four innings of the first game and 11 runs over the final five in the nightcap.

Earlier in the week, the Cardinals took on Westfield State in a non-conference match-up. The Cardinals defense struggled through the game, committing six errors that led to nine unearned runs. Westfield State took full advantage, running away with a 17-4 victory.

Despite the rough finish, the future looks bright for Wesleyan baseball. The loss of Simpson, RBI-leader Graham Douds ’08 and utility man Daniel Poniatowski ’08 will certainly be felt on the offensive side, but the lineup will be filled with the four leading average hitters from the 2008 season, and seven players that batted over .300.

The pitching staff also loses its ERA and “innings pitched” leader Kit Tholen ’08 and “saves” leader Louis Gabel ’08. However, Dusty Mones ’09 and Jon Sargent ’09, who combined for seven of the Cardinals’ 16 wins, will be back to anchor a staff that returns nine pitchers who threw at least ten innings.