Review: Men’s baseball

In their first weekend of spring action, men’s baseball (0–2) dropped both games against Williams College (5–0) in a doubleheader.

In the first game, the teams traded runs early on, including a three-run homerun from Lucas Flemming ’24. The contest remained close until the fifth inning, when Williams took advantage of several Middlebury errors and scored seven runs en route to a 17–6 victory. 

First-year Henry Gustavson ’24 made his season and career debut in the first game, tallying two strikeouts.

“It was exciting knowing that I was going to be pitching the first game as a freshman,” Gustavson said. “That level of trust and confidence from the coaching staff was really nice to see.” 

In the second contest, the Panthers struggled from the mound, allowing 20 total runs (14 earned runs). Andrew Ashley ’24 homered and drove in four RBIs in the effort and Sammy Smith ’24 smacked an RBI triple, but the Panthers ultimately lost, 20–7.

Despite losing both games, the Panthers hit the ball well in their opening weekend, and many first-year players notched their first hits and extra-base hits of their career.

“Everyone contributed, everyone stepped up to the plate,” Ashley claimed. “If we are able to do that in our first game, it gives us confidence knowing that we can compete in the NESCAC despite being mostly first-years.”

Middlebury will look to steady the ship when they host Wesleyan University for another doubleheader next Saturday, April 17. The action begins at Forbes Field at 1:30 p.m.