Bats ignite for 10-game win streak

Author: Steve Beslow

After a meteoric rise to the top of the NESCAC standings, including a four game sweep of Tufts (ranked seventh in the national poll), the Middlebury baseball team saw its school-record 10-game winning streak brought to an end at the hands of Amherst last weekend. In their first major setback of the year, the Panthers dropped two of three to the Lord Jeffs, who capitalized on some good pitching and a whole lot of sloppy Middlebury defense.

Middlebury started out strong in Friday afternoon's opener, drawing first blood on an RBI double from co-captain Ryan Armstrong '06. The Panthers extended their lead in the bottom of the third. After consecutive singles to lead off the inning, Middlebury used some productive outs on a sac bunt from co-captain Noah Walker '06 and an RBI groundout from Armstrong to score Gabe Broughton '08 from third.

The Lord Jeffs struck back in the top half of the next inning, plating their first run on an RBI double off of Middlebury hurler Justin Wright '08. This would be the only earned run that Wright would allow, despite taking the loss.

The Panthers held strong until the sixth, when the wheels completely came off the applecart. Amherst's first batter reached on a throwing error by Wright that would set the tone for the rest of the inning. In all, three critical errors would lead to four unearned runs for the Lord Jeffs, who never looked back after taking the lead.

The unearned runs sank Wright, who allowed all five runs (one earned) in a complete game loss. Wright struck out three, walked two and gave up eight hits in his first loss of the season, bringing him to 4-1 on the year.

The loss of their winning streak did little to dampen the Panthers' high spirits, and they came out swinging again to open up Saturday's double-header. This time, however, it was Amherst that struck first, plating a run in the opening frame.

Middlebury's bats remained quiet until the fourth inning, when the Panthers loaded the bases before recording an out. Armstrong followed with an RBI single, plating Broughton and senior Joe Ramoin. Despite still having the bases full with no one away, the Panthers failed to add to their lead, following Armstrong's hit with a double play and a fly out to end the inning.

Amherst scored again to tie it in the fifth, but was completely overwhelmed by the Panther offense in the bottom of the next inning. John Lanahan '08 doubled down the left field line to score Ramoin after a walk and a costly Amherst error. Middlebury took advantage of another miscue when Alex Casnocha '06 was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, bringing in Armstrong. First-year Mark Shimrock had the final blow, ripping a single through the right side of the infield to score Nick Lefeber '08 and Lanahan, giving Middlebury a 6-2 lead that they would preserve for the victory. Ramoin highlighted the effort, getting two hits and scoring a pair of the Panther runs.

Jack Britton '08 pitched all seven innings for the win, striking out four and walking two while allowing five hits and two earned runs. The win improved Britton's record to 2-2 on the season and set the two rivals up for a rubber-match in the back end of the doubleheader.

Unfortunately, the Panthers never got off the ground in the second game. Amherst had already taken a 3-0 lead before Midd managed to squeak out a run against Lord Jeff's pitcher Nick Kehoe, who held Middlebury to only five hits in the game. The Panther's lone run came courtesy of a Lanahan double to left that scored Armstrong, who had singled to lead off the seventh inning.

After Amherst added an insurance run in the eighth on a bases-loaded walk, Middlebury threatened in their last at-bat, putting two men on with no outs. It was not to be, however, and a strikeout and double-play later, the Panthers were victims of their first NESCAC series loss of the season.

Despite not having come away with two wins, the Panthers have plenty to be proud of looking back on this series. Young players like Britton and Lanahan are turning into solid contributors, and the seniors, especially Armstrong, continue to thrash opposing pitchers. Counting on a few less defensive miscues, the Panthers are looking like one of the tougher teams to beat in the NESCAC this year. Middlebury will continue their push towards the playoff with the division finale at Hamilton this weekend.