NORTON, Mass. – The Suffolk baseball team used two four-run innings and a defensive ninth to capture an 8-5 victory over Wheaton Friday afternoon at Sidell Stadium.
Freshman second baseman Jake Frasca paced the Rams at the plate and sophomore Worth Walrod gave up just four in seven complete innings of work as Suffolk (9-3) picked up its 11th victory of the season and second straight.
Frasca went 3-for-4 with two runs and one RBI, while sophomore centerfielder Brady Chant (1-for-4, 1R) and junior designated hitter Kevin Belskie (1-for-3) drove in two runs apiece. Sophomore Seth Coiley (1-for-4) and Greg Speliotis (1-for-1, 1R) also knocked in runners.
The Rams, who were in search of their first victory in New England, found their stride early. With the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the first Chant came around to score after Jon Lapolla grounded into a double play. In the next at bat, Frasca drove a single up through the left side to bring in Rob Marks. After Drew Carter advanced Frasca to second on a single up the right side, Belskie bombed a two RBI double to center field that score Frasca and Carter to make to 4-0 Rams in the early going.
Suffolk set the Lyons down in order to the bottom of the inning, but Wheaton (8-4) figured out Walrod in the bottom of the second. After the Lyons sandwiched a single around two outs, Joseph Santigate grabbed a two-out double to make it 4-2.
The Rams kept things were they were at for the next two innings, before Wheaton made things interesting in the fifth. Zachar Goodwin-Boyd started things off with a double and Santigate drew a walk to put runners on first and second. A sac bun by Chris Rucco pushed the runners and Godowin-Boyd came around on Jimmy Smith's single up the right side to make it 3-2.
After a scoreless sixth, the Lyons evened the score, drawing an error and two singles. The next inning, however, the Rams put their foot on the gas pedal. Suffolk got early help thanks to a Frasca double to center field. Carter then moved Frasca on a sac bunt. Speliotis walked up to the dish facing a new arm, Jordan Jenkins, and he was no match as the sophomore belted a double to left field to, playing Frasca in the process, to regain the lead for the Rams. Two batters later, Chant sent a double deep to right center to score Speliotis and Matt Brenner. The Lyons made their second switch on the hill on the day and in the inning as Justin Gallagher took over the reigns. Marks drew a walk off Gallagher's first at bat and Coiley reach on a fielder's choice to give Suffolk the 8- lead.
Wyatt Stanley came on to relieve Walrod and got the Lyons to sit in order to finish off the eighth. Cal Carroll came in to close for the blue-and-gold and surveyed a scare in the ninth. After Wheaton brought in a run with two outs, Carroll got Smith to go out looking and preserved the rubber match win for the Rams.
Suffolk will make the trip to Providence, Rhode Island tomorrow as the Rams are set to take on Rhode Island College in a doubleheader set to begin at noon.