Hyland Hits 2 HR, Leads AMCATS Past Hawks

LEICESTER, Mass. – Senior Justin Hyland (Spencer, Mass.) smashed two homeruns to lift Anna Maria College to a 7-5 win over Becker College in non-conference baseball action Wednesday afternoon at Rochdale Park. The win ups the AMCATS record to 15-19 while the Hawks fall to 11-24.

Anna Maria got on the board in the top of the second inning when Eric Morrissey (Auburn, Mass.) hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, allowing Julian Diaz (Providence, R.I.) to scamper home from third with the first run of the ballgame.

The AMCATS increased their lead to 2-0 in the top of the third when Justin Hyland belted a solo homerun to deep right field. In the top of the fourth Anna Maria added another run on a two out, RBI single off the bat John Sullivan (Southbury, Conn.), scoring Kevin Wodatch (Wallingford, Conn.) from third with the AMCATS third run.

In the top of the fifth inning the Becker defense made two costly errors allowing the AMCATS to plate their fourth run. In the top of the sixth Justin Hyland smashed a two-run homerun over the right field fence giving the AMCATS a 6-0 advantage. Later in the inning Michael Kilcoyne (Worcester, Mass.) hit and RBI single down the left field line to give Anna Maria a 7-0 cushion.

Becker finally got to Anna Maria starting pitcher Kevin Wodatch in the bottom of the seventh. After entering the inning with just one hit the Hawks were able to bring three runs across the plate. After a walk and a single C.J. Flanders (Londonderry, N.H.) cleared the bases with a triple to right field. Senior Austin Phillips (Thomson, Ga.) followed with a double down the left field line, scoring Flanders and cutting the AMCAT lead to 7-3.

The Hawks scored two more runs in the bottom of the eighth when Tom Natoli (Suffern, N.Y.) drove in two runs with a single through the left side of the infield scoring Mike Smith (Warner, N.H.) and Todd Tompkins (West Haven, Conn.).

The AMCATS called on closer Phil Weihn (Clinton, Mass.) to get the final five outs of the game, preserving the 7-5 victory for Anna Maria. Kevin Wodatch earned the win after pitching six and a third innings, allowing three runs on four hits. Anna Maria returns to the diamond on Saturday, May 5 when they play Holy Cross at 12:00 p.m.

Becker starter Jason Silbor (Uxbridge, Mass.) took the loss for the Hawks after tossing two and two-third innings, allowing one earned run on three hits. Keon Jenkins (Nashua, N.H.) kept the Hawks in the game by throwing two hitless innings. Becker will begin New England Collegiate Conference Tournament action on Friday, May 3 when they battle top seeded Daniel Webster College at 11:00 a.m.

Release Courtesy of Becker Sports Information Department