Josh Eastman at bat against Plymouth State University. Photo by Michael Vesci (He/Him) of Beacon Athletics.
The midweek matchups for the Beacons this past week were two totally different stories (1). Within 24 hours of one another, the Beacons hit rock bottom and skyrocketed right to the top (1). The Babson College Beavers came to visit last Wednesday, and they certainly gave the Beacons a piece of their mind.
Pitcher Ethan Hunt had a rough outing to start up the game. The first three runners reached base with a hit batter, single and walk until finally striking out a Beaver. The Beavers managed to score two runs, taking advantage of the loaded bases and gaining the first lead of the game (2).
It wasn’t until the last three innings that any more runs were scored. An overturned call set up Beaver outfielder Ryan Hvozdovic to add another run to the score. Infielders Chris Basile and Brant Savage hit back-to-back singles in the eighth, and a ninth-inning sacrifice fly finished the job, with the final score being 6–0 (2).
The Beavers’ pitcher Jared Clark was lights out all game long. The Beacons were only able to land three hits, one from catcher Craig Corliss and two from outfielder Luke Leavitt (3). It was the second time the Beacons had been shut out all year long, the first being against the Rowan University Owls back in Florida during the RussMatt Invitational (1).
However, the Beacons were able to use this as fuel for their next game, where they took a trip up to New Hampshire to play the Plymouth State University Panthers (1). To say the Beacons let off some steam against the Panthers would be a vast understatement, as the opening inning was an absolute Beacon walloping.
Aidan Blake, Gianni Zarilli Jr., Nick Palma, Bostyn Burris and Joey Morrison all hit singles, swiftly giving the Beacons a 5–0 lead before they even had an out. They ended the inning leading 7–0, a much-needed spark to start the game (4).
The Panthers finally got on the board in the third off a single from infielder Bryan McGrath. However, the Beacons took that singular run personally and responded with even more firepower. The Beacons scored four runs each in both the fourth and fifth inning, with much of the credit going to Morrison, who had a pair of singles and doubles, extending their lead to 14 runs (5).
In the fifth inning, four runs from the Panthers highlighted their afternoon. Even then, the Beacons put up three more, in which they finally called the game due to the mercy rule (5). Just a day after getting shutout, the Beacons beat the Panthers 18–5 in a major statement game.
Going into the Panthers game, the Beacons were on a miserable three-game losing streak. However, if there’s any way to boost morale and bring life back into the team, it is by dropping 18 runs on an opponent.
As the end of the baseball season inches closer and closer, the Beacons may be starting to win at the right time. Their victory against the Panthers marked their 20th win of the season, and if they continue to play like they did, then there will be a few more to come (1). Their small slump is now in the past, the Beacons are ready to put points on the board.
All but one of the remaining Beacons’ games is against a Little East Conference team, that game being Wednesday’s matchup against the Amherst College Mammoths (1). They currently sit third in the standings behind the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors and the Rhode Island College Anchormen (6). This Beacon offense continues to prove that they can hang with the best of them, and if this past match is any indicator, they are sure to end the year strong.
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