NORTON, Mass. – Curry College and senior pitcher Cory Moore (Lynn, MA) defeated #2 regionally-ranked Wheaton College for the second time this season, taking a 6-4 decision at Sidell Stadium in Norton Monday afternoon. The Colonels improved to 17-10, while the Lyons had a nine-game winning streak snapped in falling to 17-6.
The contest was the third in the season series between the teams, with each game slated to occur at a different site. They meet again tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. at Brockton's Campanelli Stadium after the Colonels took a 7-6 decision last month in Florida.
Moore, who has now thrown 14 shutout innings against Wheaton this year, scattered eight hits over eight innings while striking out six for Curry. Senior Tim Sweeney (Walpole, MA) and sophomore Brian Morante (Westwood, MA) combined for more than half of the Colonels' 11 hits, with Sweeney going 3-for-5 and Morante going 3-for-4 with three RBI. Senior Rick Vail (Lynnfield, MA) added two RBI.
Lyon freshman Eric Jensen (Gorham, NH) went 3-for-4, while junior Rob Jenkins (Rochester, NH) and sophomore Hal Landers (Salem, NH) had two hits each. Freshman Frank Holbrook (Middletown, RI) allowed three first-inning runs during 5.2 frames.
During the opening frame, the Colonels drew a two-out walk before a hit batsman loaded the bases, and Morante came through with a three-run double, producing the game's only runs during the opening six innings. Holbrook wiggled out of a two-on, two-out jam in the fifth when he induced a fly ball to shallow center.
Curry threatened to score more during much of the game, as the Colonels were set down in order during only the fourth and ninth innings, and the visitors broke through with their fourth run in the seventh inning. Sweeney legged out an infield single, moved to second on a miscue, swiped third and then scored on Vail's single through the left side.
The following frame, Curry padded its lead with what proved to be two more critical runs, as Sweeney beat out an infield RBI single, and Vail followed with a run-scoring groundout.
The hosts opened the ninth inning with four straight singles, including consecutive run-scoring knocks by juniors Hadi Raad (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY) and Tad Skelley (Wolfeboro, NH) that made it 6-2.
Senior Paul Malaguti (Andover, MA) followed with two down by drilling a sinking liner to center field that a diving Sweeney nearly caught just above the ground for what would have been a spectacular final out, but the ball ricocheted away, plating two runs and putting Malaguti in scoring position. However, Wheaton's next batter, who represented the tying run, flied out to right.
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