WENHAM, Mass.—Gordon College used an eight-run fifth inning to finish a 14-5 win over visiting Lesley University this afternoon in non-conference baseball action. After the Lynx opened a 4-1 lead in the early going, Gordon countered with 13 straight runs to halt a three-game skid.
Junior Jared Kefalas (Wenham, Mass.) got the start for Gordon, giving up a walk to lead off the game. Kefalas almost got out of the inning unscathed, but a wild pitch with two outs allowed Robert Parson (Commack, N.Y.) to score from third base.
After Lesley starter Jeff Landry (Vestal, N.Y.) cut down the Scots in order, the Lynx offense was back at it again in the second. Lesley drove in two runs on three singles and a walk—loading the bases in the process. Once again Kefalas was able to minimize the damage, but the Lynx held a 3-0 after an inning and a half.
The Fighting Scots got one back in the bottom half of the second. Alonzo Martinez (El Paso, Texas) kicked off the inning with a single up the middle. Mark Fitzgerald (Camarillo, Calif.) grounded into a fielder's choice, but advanced to third on Carlos Pichardo's (La Romana, D.R.) laser down the first-base line. Fitzgerald scored the Scots' first run when Alex Smith (Wethersfield, Conn.) reached on a fielder's choice.
Lesley extended their lead to 4-1 in the top of the third on a double to the gap in right center off the bat of Mike Slaby (Foxboro, Mass.). Slaby's knock brought Kevin Hopwood (Winter Haven, Fla.) all the way in from first for the three-run advantage.
Once again the Scots found enough power to add another run to the scoreboard in the bottom half of the inning. Alex German (Brimfield, Ill.) led off the inning by reaching on a kicked ball in the Lynx infield. Eric Walker (Danvers, Mass.) escorted German over to second on a single and both runners advanced on a throwing error.
Jesse Amaya (South Gate, Calif.) drove in the Scots' second run on a perfectly executed sacrifice fly to dead center.
The Scots held the Lynx to their first scoreless inning in the fourth and found plenty of offense on the other end. Fitzgerald was hit by a pitch to start the inning and he was drive home on a long double by Pichardo. The Scots' designated hitter missed a home run by a foot despite the wind blowing in at J. Tec White Field.
Smith singled and stole second before German walked to load the bases with only one out in the inning. Walker obliged with the game-tying single to left field to plate Pichardo from third. Amaya gave Gordon its first lead one batter later when he reached on a fielder's choice, when the Lynx dropped a potential double-play ball. The runners at second and third came around to score to give Gordon a 6-4 lead heading into the second half of the game.
The Scots broke the game wide open in the fifth. Between six hits and four errors committed by the Lynx, Gordon was able to score eight runs to give themselves an insurmountable 10-run lead. All six hits in the inning scored runs for Gordon, including RBI doubles from German, Fitzgerald and Smith.
Lesley would add another run on Slaby's second RBI double of the day in the seventh inning, but the Scots held the Lynx scoreless the rest of the game to preserve the win.
Gordon improves to 13-11 on the season, while Lesley drops to 6-8. Matt Amore (Pequannock, N.J.) picked up his second win of the season for the Scots and continues to lead the team with a 1.23 ERA. Landry dropped to 0-1 in his first start in green and gold.
Lesley is scheduled to play Elms College tomorrow in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) action. First pitch is slated for 4:00p.