NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. – The Lesley University baseball team dropped the season series against Colby-Sawyer College following a 3-2 loss, Wednesday afternoon. Senior first baseman Justin Devoid (Quechee, Vt.) hit a solo homerun in the top of the ninth for the game-winner.
It was a pitcher's duel for the first five innings. Lynx junior righthander Tom Muratore (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) got the non-conference nod tossing two shut-out innings before turning the ball over to junior right-hander Nick Iadevaio (Mineola, N.Y.).
The junior pair kept the Charger batters off balance. When he entered in the top of the third, Iadevaio retired the first six batters face before giving up a base-hit to junior rightfielder Connor Henry (East Boston, Mass.).
But Colby-Sawyer senior right-hander Chris Mitchell, Jr. (Avon, Mass.) was equally as dominant keeping the Lynx off the board until the bottom of the fifth.
In the home half of the fifth, sophomore centerfielder Gage Reycroft (Fort Myers, Fla.) opened up the frame drawing a walk before scampering into scoring position on sacrifice. Three batters later sophomore leftfielder Matthew Bavaro (Sayville, N.Y.) drove in Reycroft lining a base-hit into leftfield to give the Lynx the 1-0 advantage.
The lead was short-lived as the Chargers were finally able to get to Lynx pitching in the top of the sixth. After junior Joey Fenuccio (Keene, N.H.) opened the inning lining a single into right-center, it appeared as if Iadevaio was going to get out of the inning unscathed. The New York native quickly retired the next two batters before senior leftfielder Nathan Frongillo (Haverhill, Mass.) changed the game. The north shore native drove a two-run shot over the leftfield fence to put the Chargers on top 2-1.
It stayed a one-run game until the top of the ninth when Devoid added an insurance run with a solo homerun to right-center which the Chargers would need. Pinch-hitting for senior third baseman Mike Slaby (Foxborough, Mass.), sophomore Daniel O'Donnell, Jr. (Clark, N.J.) launched his first homerun of the season to pull the Lynx back to within a run, 3-2.
However it was all the Lynx would be able to muster. Charger sophomore right-hander Ryan Glendye (Litchfield, N.H.) got sophomore first baseman Ryan Pumphret (Shrewsbury, Mass.) to ground out to third to close out the game and earn his first save of the season.
Mitchell, Jr. earned the victory tossing seven innings allowing one run on five hits while striking out seven to improve to 3-0 on the year. Iadevaio took the loss after pitching four innings of relief allowing two runs on three hits while striking out one.
The Lynx return to New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) action this weekend with a pair against Daniel Webster College on Saturday April 1st. First pitch slated for noon. The Chargers will also be in action on Saturday afternoon with two against Lyndon State College.