Baseball Overpowers Albertus Magnus in Series Sweep

NEW HAVEN, Conn.- The Eastern Nazarene College baseball team coasted to a pair of non-conference victories at Albertus Magnus Wednesday in the first-ever meeting between the two sides, prevailing 25-3 and 2-0.

The Lions improve to 19-15-1 on the season with the wins while the Falcons flutter to 9-22 overall.

Tyler Bean (Wellington, Fla.) notched four hits, five RBIs, five runs scored, and a pair of stolen bases on the evening. Jaime Roldan (Boston, Mass.) finished with four base knocks, three RBIs, and two runs scored. Anderson Jimenez (Lowell, Mass.) collected two hits, three RBIs, and two runs scored. Frank Landeiro (Orlando, Fla.) chipped in with two base hits, three RBIs, four runs scored, and a stolen base.

In game one, Eastern Nazarene racked up a program-record 25 runs in a 25-3 rout over Albertus Magnus.

The Lions posted nine runs in the top of the first inning to establish a 9-0 lead. Landeiro laced a single to left-centerfield to drive in Bean. Shane McNamara (Londonderry, N.H.) roped a single to centerfield to knock in Landeiro before Roldan flared a single to right field to score McNamara from second base. Roldan scampered home from third base on a wild pitch and Brandon Guerrero (Boston, Mass.) followed with a double to left field to plate Anderson Jimenez. Kelvin Cortez (Corona, N.Y.) scorched a double down the right field line to drive in Guerrero. In his second at-bat of the frame, Bean belted a two-run homer for his second blast of the spring. Landeiro followed with a solo shot for his fifth home run of the year.

The visitors produced five runs in the second to widen the margin to 14-0. McNamara and Roldan both crossed the dish as Anderson Jimenez reached on an error. Bean raked a single to centerfield to score Anderson Jimenez before Guerrero scored on a wild pitch. Bean scurried home from third base as Landeiro reached on an error.

Eastern Nazarene added a run in the third to extend its advantage to 15-0. McNamara crossed the dish as Guerrero reached on a fielder's choice.

The Lions tacked on four runs in the fourth inning to stretch their lead to 19-0. Cortez motored home on a wild pitch before Roldan laced a base hit to centerfield to knock in Bean and Landeiro. Steven Pesce (Harrison, N.Y.) scored from third base as Anderson Jimenez reached on a fielder's choice.

Eastern Nazarene pushed its advantage to 23-0 in the fifth, generating four runs. Pesce, McNamara, Anderson Jimenez, and Juan Jacobo Lopez (San Diego, Calif.) all collected an RBI in the inning.

The guests chalked up a run in the sixth to increase the gap to 24-0. Hunter Leroux-Porter (Greenland, N.H.) laced a pinch-hit single to right field to plate George Calderon Jr. (New York, N.Y.).

The home team got on the board in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs to cut the deficit to 24-3. Anthony Broadhurst launched a three-run homer to drive in Matt Warren and Shawn Smith.

Eastern Nazarene registered a run in the seventh to widen the gap to 25-3 as Andres Medina (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) scootered home from third base on a wild pitch with two outs.

Spencer Boynton (Tampa, Fla.) pitched six innings and struck out a career-high 14 batters. O'Neil Jimenez (Lowell, Mass.) tossed one scoreless inning of relief.

In the nightcap, the Lions blanked the Falcons 2-0 behind a complete-game gem by Morgan Weast (Cincinnati, Ohio).

Eastern Nazarene notched one run in the third inning to seize a 1-0 edge. Bean lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield to drive in Guerrero from third base.

The Lions doubled their advantage to 2-0 with a run in the top of the seventh. Bean recorded his fifth RBI of the series as he laced a base hit to knock in Cortez.

Weast fanned a career-best 12 batters and scattered just two hits and one walk.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene hosts Mitchell April 30 in a pivotal NECC doubleheader.