Friday’s game was a nail biter ending in a 5-3 win. Amherst took the lead in the second with a single by Jose Espinosa ’11 and then allowed Williams one run in the sixth off two doubles for a 1-1 tie. The Jeffs brought in two in both the seventh and the eighth, featuring a triple by first-year Kevin Heller, while Williams could only muster a pair of runs between the final two innings of the game.
Sophomore Ryan Healy started the game and pitched six before handing the ball over to junior Teddy Blank and finally sophomore Patrick Harris. Harris faced a single batter and earned the save.
Saturday’s opener finished 7-5 in seven innings. Sophomore Max McKenna pitched the complete game and now stands 3-3 for the season. Messy defense put the Jeffs behind 1-5 in the second. The fourth saw a surge in Jeff bat activity as senior co-captain Angus Schaller, sophomore Brian Merrigan and junior Will Lawton all smacked RBI singles, moving the game to 4-5.
Bringing the Jeffs to the positive side at 6-5 in the fifth, senior co-captain Brendan Powers and sophomore Scott Shaffer both doubled before Schaller burned one that hopped the outfield fence. McKenna allowed no earned runs and garnered four strikeouts.
The nightcap-turned-blow-out ended 17-1 with every batter in the Amherst starting lineup collecting at least one hit. Senior Ryan Platzbecker pitched for 8 2/3 and the win, lowering his ERA to 2.45 with only one run and 8 strikeouts. Junior John D’Angelo relieved for the final batter in his first appearance since 2007. Schaller hit his first jack of the season, while Powers extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
The big news of the weekend was Schaller’s bat and 5-7 Saturday performance. Powers was quick to praise his co-captain’s performance. “Angus really came through with a big day at the plate for us. He erupted with a bunch of hits, including a towering homerun.”
“It was great to see Angus’s bat really come alive,” agreed Espinosa. “When [Schaller]’s seeing the ball well and gets on a hot streak every ball he hits is scorched.”
Between the two games on Saturday, the team held a special ceremony for Thurston’s retirement was held. Powers described the event as memorable for players, alumni and fans alike. “Thurston’s ceremony was an absolute blast, and we were able to meet many former players who made the trip back to honor Coach Thurston. It was nice running into alums we played with over the last few years, and it was also great to meet new faces. There were even a few players back from the 1960’s, so it was pretty entertaining to hear what Coach Thurston was like way back in the day.”
Five consecutive wins, all counting towards NESCAC, have turned the Jeffs’ season around. “The men are definitely on an emotional high” said Espinosa.
Powers added, “We’re really starting to believe in ourselves.” Schaller noted that “it’s difficult to sweep [a three-game series] regardless of the team.”
After having “stomped on Middlebury,” to quote Schaller, the Jeffs will battle Trinity in an on-the-road doubleheader this Saturday. Last night’s game against Brandeis University was cancelled and has not been rescheduled. According to Espinosa’s calculations, beating Hamilton in their upcoming rubber game and Williams on May 3 will guarantee hosting the NESCAC tournament, a “feat in and of itself.”