After having yet another mid-week game postponed due to rain, the Cardinals looked to bounce back from last weekend’s tough series against Williams with a solid showing against NESCAC West opponent Middlebury on Saturday in Vermont. Brett Yarusi ’12 shut out the Panthers in a complete-game effort for the first Wesleyan victory of the day, and senior captain Joey Giaimo’s work at the plate and on the mound was just enough for the Cardinals to inch past the Panthers and sweep the double header.
“Everyone knew how important this weekend was and losing on Friday made Saturday’s games that much more important,” Giaimo said. “They were in first place for a reason, and we knew they were going to battle.”
Yarusi set the tone in the first game, allowing just three hits as his fastball proved too much for the Middlebury batters. It was Yarusi’s third complete-game effort of the season as he improved to 3-3 with an ERA of 4.25. He has allowed just one earned run in his last 15 innings pitched.
Senior captains Julian Sonnenfeld and Giaimo, along with Noah Feingold ’12, each had two hits as the Cardinals powered past the Panthers 6-0.
The Cardinals’ strong play continued into the second game as the team jumped out to an early 4-0 lead with hits from Sonnenfeld and Alex Meadow ’12, and the help of a shaky Middlebury pitcher. The lead was short-lived, however, as the Cardinals gave up a run in the first and suffered a six-run Panther outburst in the second inning to find themselves down 7-4. Heading into the ninth, with a score of 10-6 in Middlebury’s favor, it looked as though the Cardinals were going to come up short after a solid performance in game one.
“I thought we were done,” Giaimo said. “I was so disappointed. I took a knee outside the dugout and thought we were done.”
“I was able to tie it up with a fastball that I hit hard on the ground to get through to the outfield,” Giaimo continued, explaining how, in the top of the ninth inning, the team rallied for five runs to take an 11-10 lead that he would later preserve in the bottom half of the inning. “Then we caught a break with Meadow’s infield hit and while I was on third, Coach [Woodworth] asked if I was ready to pitch. Not warming up, I didn’t know what would happen; luckily I threw strikes and we won. It was so emotional and just a great win for our team.”
The Cardinals improved to 5-4 in NESCAC West play, with hopes of making a third straight NESCAC tournament appearance. The team plays at home today, April 19, against Clark University before another tough series with top-seeded Tufts of the NESCAC East at home this weekend.
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