NASHUA, N.H. – Junior right-hander Tom Muratore (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) tied his single-season best, earning his sixth victory of the season as the Lynx completed the season sweep of Daniel Webster College with a 12-2 win Thursday afternoon. Muratore improved to 6-3 after allowing just two runs on four hits while striking out five Eagles.
The Lynx improve to 16-14-1 on the season and 7-7 in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) action while the Eagles drop to 5-16 and 2-9 in conference play.
After giving up a one out double in the top of the first, Muratore settled into a groove retiring the next 12 Eagle hitters as he took a one-hitter into the fifth inning. The Lynx offense gave him plenty of run support pushing across four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Eagles starter Ryan Murray was effect through the first three innings but the second time through the Lynx batting order was a different story. Sophomore shortstop Nicholas Ferragine (Randolph, N.J.) roped a one-out single the other way to drive in junior centerfielder J.P. Agiorgousis (Hanscom AFB, Mass.) to give the Lynx the 1-0 lead.
It appeared to rattle Murray as he struggled with a bout of wildness. The Eagles' southpaw hit first year right-fielder Will Rhone (North Haven, Conn.) before walking the next two batters to force home the Lynx's second run and spell the end of the day for Murray. However, Daniel Webster reliever Matt Dietrich did not fare much better.
First year first baseman Matthew Warner (San Diego, Calif.) pulled a double down the third baseline against the new pitcher to plate both DePalma and Taliercio and take the 4-0 lead. It was more than enough for Muratore who did not allow a run until the top of the fifth inning.
Daniel Webster was finally able to jump on the scoreboard for two runs in the top of the fifth thanks to back-to-back clutch two out base-hits. Centerfielder Radolfo Acosta laced a single off the second base bag to drive home shortstop Matt Alverino. Leftfielder Mike Pelletier cut the deficit in half to 4-2 with a base-hit into left field to plate Mike Gamache.
Dietrich appeared to settle down retiring Lynx in order in the home half of the frame but Muratore matched him with a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the sixth. Momentum quickly spun back over to the Lynx as they batted around in the home half to put up a crooked number six to take a 12-2 lead and never looked back.
Sophomore right-hander Daniel O'Donnell, Jr. (Clark, N.J.) came on in relief of Muratore and pitched the final two innings allowing one hit and one walk. Murray took the loss dropping him to 1-4 on the season after allowing six runs – four earned – on two hits while walking four and striking out four.
The Lynx return to the diamond this weekend for a big three-game series against conference foe Becker College, Saturday afternoon at Bunker Hill Community College. First pitch is slated for noon. The Eagles will be back in action tomorrow afternoon against non-conference Lyndon State College at 3:30 p.m.