In the opener, Amherst got off to a great start, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Williams came storming back, scoring one run in the third inning and then taking the lead in the fifth. The Ephs' bats proved to be too powerful for Amherst, as they tallied four runs to take a 5-2 lead. The rally was highlighted by Eph Chris Kenney's towering fly ball that carried just over the right field wall for a three-run homerun.
Junior Dave Powers tried to spark an Amherst comeback in the seventh and final inning with a two-run homer of his own. Yet the Jeffs could only muster two runs as they stranded the tying run on first base.
Powers' home run was his team-leading third of the season. He also added an RBI single in the first inning. First baseman Dave Levinson '06 smashed an RBI double, while second baseman Brandon Cody '04 had a pair of singles and scored two runs. Senior co-captain Duncan Webb took the loss on the mound, evening his record at 4-4.
In the second game, the Lord Jeffs could not overcome five errors in the field and suffered a 5-2 loss. The Ephs scored unearned runs in the first and third innings. Amherst rookie Mark Mazzone delivered a pinch-hit double in the fourth inning, plating a pair of runs. These were the only runs Amherst would score, however, as the Jeffs were shut down by the Ephs rookie pitching duo of Cory Catelli and Paul Morgan.
Despite allowing only five hits and three earned runs, Brian Donahue '07 (4-1) suffered the loss for Amherst, the first of his collegiate career. Sophomore Joe Vladeck shone, hurling four and two-thirds shutout innings after coming on to relieve Donahue in the fifth.
Amherst would get its revenge on Sunday with a desperately needed 6-4 victory at Williams. Trailing 3-0 going into the fifth, the Jeffs felt their season slipping away and responded with a sense of urgency. Senior centerfielder Paul Whiting started the rally with an RBI single and junior Joe Houkal followed with a single that plated two more. The Jeffs scored an additional run on a Powers sacrifice fly.
Williams tied the game in the bottom half of the inning after a bases-loaded error. Amherst broke the tie in the seventh when Whiting belted a two-run homer to put the Jeffs up for good. Whiting finished the game with three RBIs, while Powers and Levinson each contributed a pair of hits. Co-captain Tom Sullivan '04, Josh Santry '05 and Zach Schonberger '06 each scored runs for the Jeffs as well.
Andy Kerns '04 pitched a gem, striking out nine batters and surrendering only three earned runs en route to his second win of the season. Junior closer Ed Imperatore notched his third save of the year, throwing two scoreless innings.
"Kerns was really on," said Whiting of the senior fireballer. "He was locating his pitches well and controlling the batters all game."
The win greatly improved the Jeffs' playoff chances. Tied with the Middlebury Panthers for second place in the NESCAC West, Amherst (11-12, 4-5) has just three league games remaining, all in this weekend's series at Middlebury. The best-of-three series against the Panthers will determine which team moves on to the NESCAC Tournament.
Middlebury is coming off of a split with NESCAC East leader Trinity College. The Panthers defeated the Trinity Bantams 8-3 in the first game of the doubleheader before falling 3-2 in the second game. After being swept by Williams in Florida to begin Middlebury's NESCAC schedule, the Panthers have won four out of six games. Led by pitcher David Riester and outfielder Ryan Armstrong, the Panthers will be a challenge for the Jeffs.
The momentum from Amherst's win at Williams on Sunday should have a significant impact. "It felt so great to beat them on their home field," said an optimistic Whiting. "Beating their number one pitcher [Chris Bodnar] gave us a lot of confidence. It's going to be a fun weekend."
Yesterday afternoon Amherst traveled to Keene State University for a non-league game. The Jeffs thrashed the Owls, 18-4. Santry and Schonberger both homered for Amherst.
This afternoon the Jeffs head to Brandeis University to face the Judges in their final tune-up for game one on Friday at Middlebury.