AMHERST BASEBALL BLANKS WESTFIELD ST. IN HOME OPENER

AMHERST, MA – The Amherst College baseball team pounded out 12 hits and used six pitchers in a convincing 7-0 non-league win over visiting Westfield State College on Wednesday. Red-hot junior center fielder Andrew Green (Lexington, MA) went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, upping his team-high batting average to a ridiculous .727 (16-for-22), while junior shortstop Zach Schonberger (Rye, NY) doubled twice and drove in five runs.

Amherst (6-2) ignited the rout with a trio of runs in the opening frame when sophomore second baseman Mark Mazzone (Wilmette, IL) and junior first baseman Dave Levinson (Philadelphia, PA) reached with back-to-back singles, senior left fielder Dave Powers (Andover, MA) was hit by a pitch and Schonberger cleared the bases with a three-run double into the left-center field gap.

Levinson then put the Jeffs up 5-0 with a two-run single in the fourth, before Schonberger came up again with the bases loaded in the sixth and plated a pair of insurance runs with his second double of the game.

Levinson finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, while sophomore Jared Banner (Brooklyn, NY) singled twice, stole a base and made a sparkling defensive play in right field, saving a run in the seventh. Senior third baseman Josh Santry (Allendale, NJ) added a double in the win.

Amherst sophomore Brian Donahue (Sudbury, MA) drew the start and claimed the victory, evening his record at 1-1 with a pair of hitless innings. Sophomore Nick Kehoe (Washington Depot, CT), junior Joe Vladeck (Washington, DC), junior Rob Anderson (Winnetka, IL), senior Ed Imperatore (Tenafly, NJ) and rookie Chris Edgar (Massapequa, NY) each saw action in relief.

Westfield St. (4-7) sophomore starter Justin O’Connor (Braintree, MA) surrendered five runs on 10 hits and dropped to 0-1 with the loss. The Owls managed just four hits and none for extra bases, highlighted by senior first baseman Brett Ford’s (Brockton, MA) pair of singles.