No. 17/14 Amherst Defeats Williams, 11-4

AMHERST, Mass. – The No. 17/14 Amherst College baseball team scored four runs in the eighth inning en route to downing archrival Williams College, 11-4 Friday afternoon at Memorial Field.

RECORDS
Amherst (13-3, 3-1 NESCAC West)
Williams (5-11, 1-3 NESCAC West)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• For the third time in the past four games, Amherst crossed the plate in the first inning, scoring twice to take a 2-0 lead.
• Taking the batters box two innings later, the Purple & White would score three more runs to earn a five run cushion, before tacking on a run in both the sixth and seventh.
• Williams would tally a run in the fourth and the sixth, before plating two more runs in the bottom of the seventh.
• Amherst recorded the final four runs of the game, plating four runs in the eighth to secure the 11-4 win.
• Tabbed with the start Jackson Volle '17 (4-0) earned his fourth win of the season, allowing three hits and four runs in six innings while fanning five. Chris Baldi '17, Mike Castiglie '17, and Mike Dow '19 each tossed an inning in relief, going hitless and combining for three strikeouts.
• Luke Rodino (2-2) took the loss for Williams, pitching seven innings and allowing eight hits and seven runs while striking out two. Will O'Brien, Marcus Colella, Arnie Capute each appeared in relief, allowing three hits and four runs.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• Max Steinhorn '18 lead off the top of the first with a single into right center, before Ariel Kenney '18 hit him to third with a single down the left field line. Steinhorn would score a batter later, as a passed ball allowed him to cross home plate. After a fly out to right, Joe Feldman '18 would earn an RBI, singling to center field to score Kenney.
• With one out and runners on first and second in the top of the third, Yanni Thanopoulos '17 sent a homer over the right center field fence to give Amherst a 5-0 advantage.
• Williams got on the board in the fourth as Doug Schaffe made contact with one out to score David Rosas and make it a 5-1 contest.
• Amherst and the Ephs would trade runs in the sixth with Anthony Spina '17 homering to left center before a batter caught in a rundown allowed Rosas to plate.
• The Ephs would outscore the Purple & White 2-1 in the seventh, however Amherst would use a three hit four run eighth inning to claim the 11-4 victory.
• Thanopoulos paced the Purple & White offense, going 3-for-5 with two runs and four RBI's. Anthony Spina '17 went 1-for-4 with a homer to rack up 3 RBI's, while Feldman finished the ay 2-for-5 with an RBI.
• David Rosas finished 1-for-3 with two runs and an RBI for Williams, while Jackson Parese went 1-for-1 and plated a run.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Amherst edged the Ephs in hits, 11-3.
• The Purple & White pitching staff combined for eight strikeouts and five walks, while Williams walked six and fanned two.  
• Amherst stranded nine runners in the outing, while Williams left five runners on base.

UP NEXT

• Amherst and Williams face off again today, Saturday, April 9 on Military Appreciation Day in a doubleheader at Memorial Field. The games are set to begin at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.