After playing just three games the previous week, the Amherst baseball team had a full schedule this week, playing a total of five games. The first game of the grueling week was on the road against Roger Williams University on Wednesday, April 18.
Although the Mammoths were first to get on the board, the visitors were trailing the Hawks 6-4 by the sixth inning. Unfazed by the deficit, Amherst came out firing in the top of the seventh, scoring five runs and taking a three-run lead over the hosts. Roger Williams scored twice more, but Amherst was able to hold onto its lead and tacked on an insurance run in the eighth for good measure and left the field with a 10-8 win.
Max Steinhorn ’18 was solid at the plate going 3-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Junior Nick Nardone had a multiple-hit game as well, with two hits at four at bats. The third-baseman also scored one run and tallied one RBI. Kai Terada-Herzer ’21 was the sole Mammoth with a multiple RBI game, going 1-2 with three runs scored and two RBIs.
Following this non-conference road game, Amherst returned to Memorial Field on Friday, April 20 to host NESCAC rival Wesleyan for the annual Pride Day Game. The Mammoths won the contest handily, 7-2. Sam Ellinwood ’18, Ariel Kenney ’18, Terada-Herzer and Harry Roberson ’18 all had multiple-hit games; Kenney, Terada-Herzer and Roberson tallied two each, while Ellinwood went 3-5 with one run scored and an RBI. Starting pitcher Andrew Ferrero ’19 threw six and two-thirds innings, during which he held the visiting team to two runs. Mike Dow ’19 threw two and a third innings in relief, allowing two hits and no runs to secure the win for the Mammoths.
Amherst traveled to Middletown, Connecticut the next day to complete the three-game series against the Cardinals with a Saturday afternoon doubleheader. The Mammoths came away with a win in the first game of the day, beating the host team 7-4.
Steinhorn was the only Mammoth with multiple RBIs, driving in two runs while going 1-3 with one run scored. Kenney was solid on offense as well, making contact in two of four at bats and tallying one RBI. Davis Brown ’19 started on the mound for Amherst, allowing two runs and two hits, while Dow closed out the win for the second straight contest.
The second game of the day did not end in Amherst’s favor, as the Mammoths were unable to sweep the Cardinals, who won 9-6.
Despite multiple-hit games from Steinhorn, Terada-Herzer, and Roberson, Amherst was unable to stop Wesleyan. Starting pitcher Sam Schneider ’18 threw six and a third innings, allowing two runs and six hits while striking out two. David Brinkley ’19 finished the game on the mound for the Mammoths and allowed two runs and one hit.
Amherst finished out the action-packed week with one more away game on Sunday, April 22. With fewer than 24 hours of rest, the Mammoths were back on the road and headed to Norton, Mass. to face off against the Wheaton College Lyons.
Wheaton held the lead for the majority of the game, but an explosive eighth inning for the Mammoths launched the visitors to a decisive 16-2 victory over the Lyons.
Amherst tallied nine runs in the eighth and the host team was unable to close the gap. Rob Casey III ’20 had a big game for Amherst, going 4-5 with one run scored and two RBIs, while Terada-Herzer led the team in RBIs with three over the course of the game.
With the four wins, the Mammoths improved to 17-8 overall and 6-2 in the conference. Amherst will have a bit of break before returning to action with an away game against Springfield College on Thursday, April 26 at 3:30 p.m. On Saturday, April 28, the Mammoths will play their final home games of the season and celebrate both Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day with a doubleheader against NESCAC rival Trinity. The first game is scheduled for 1 p.m., while the second will begin at 3:30 p.m.
