NASHUA, N.H. – Kyle Brigham (Hudson, N.H.) led off the bottom of the ninth being hit by a pitch, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and came home when Tyler Bonin's (Litchfield N.H.) infield grounder turned into a throwing error giving Daniel Webster a dramatic 2-1 victory over Lesley in a NECC matchup Thursday at chilly Harvey Woods Field.
Both of DWC's runs were unearned on the day as the Eagles won for the fourth straight time and for the seventh in their last eight. The win moved DWC (14-6) into a tie with Mitchell College for first place in the conference with a 7-2 record. The Eagles own the season tiebreaker over the Mariners.
Lesley dropped to 8-8 overall (2-3 NECC).
The game was a nifty pitcher's duel throughout pitting Lesley's junior lefty Ryan Genua (Prospect, Conn.), and DWC's Ariel Ramos (Lawrence, Mass.). Genua sparkled in the tough-luck loss, allowing just two Eagle hits while striking out seven and walking two.
Ramos, who went 8 1/3 allowing one earned run on six hits, struck out eight and walked four. Greg Dubela (Stratham, N.H.) came on in the ninth and earned the victory, moving him to 3-0 on the season.
Lesley had forged ahead in the top of the first as Adam Ciampi (Weston, Mass.) drew a one-out walk, stole second, and scored on Kevin Hopwood's (Winter Haven, Fla.) two-out single.
DWC threatened only once early on as Rich Lizotte (West Warwick, R.I.) singled to lead off the second, moved to second as Erick Bourdeau (Alton Bay, N.H.) walked, but Genua got out of the jam with a strikeout and pop to third to end the threat.
Genua would retire 14 straight after the Bourdeau walk until Elliot Kilgore (Milford, N.H.) reached on an error to start the seventh, moved to second on a groundout and came home when Bourdeau doubled for a 1-1 game.
Lesley threatened in the ninth as Ray Cohen (Coventry, Conn.) walked to lead off and moved to second on a sac bunt. But Dubela bore down to earn a strikeout and grounder to short to strand Cohen and set up the late ending.
The Eagles return to action on Saturday as they play games one and two of a three-game NECC weekend set with Newbury beginning at Noon. Lesley plays a three-game weekend home series with NECC foe Southern Vermont beginning Saturday at Noon.