BASICS
Team Records: Emerson - 3-13, NEWMAC 0-3; Babson - 9-6, NEWMAC 4-0
Game 1 Final Score: Emerson 2, Babson 12 (F7)
Game 1 Pitchers: WP - G. Nieskens (2-0); LP - Benny Guevara (1-3)
Game 2 Final Score: Emerson 2, Babson 12 (F8)
Game 2 Pitchers: J. Finkleste (3-1); Chris Lowe (1-2)
Venue & Location: Govoni Field; Babson Park, Mass.
Date & Times: March 30, 2024; 12:00 p.m. / 3:00 p.m.

THE LEAD
Babson Park, Mass. - Baseball was mercy-ruled in both games of a doubleheader against Babson on Saturday afternoon. Both games ended 12-2, with the first being called after seven innings and the second being called after eight. Emerson moves to 3-13 on the season and 0-3 in conference play, while Babson improves to 9-6 and remains undefeated against NEWMAC opponents with a 4-0 in such games.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Emerson (Game 1)
- Benny Guevara (GS, L): 3.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 HA, 4 SO, BB, HBP
- Briggs Loveland: 2-2, HR, 2 RBI, BB, R, SB
- Nicholas Favazzo: 1-2

Emerson (Game 2)
- Chris Lowe (GS, L): 2.0 IP, 6 ER, 6 HA, 2 SO, BB, HBP
- Justin Fields: 1-4, RBI
- Loveland: 1-3, BB, SO

Babson (Game 1)
- G. Nieskens (GS, L): 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 HA, 4 BB
- B. Savage: 3-4, 3 2B, 4 RBI, R
- L. Tanner: 2-3, 3 RBI, 2 R, SB

Babson (Game 2)
- J. Finkleste (GS, W): 5.1 IP, 0 ER,3 HA, 9 SO, 3 BB
- Tanner: 1-3, 3B, 3 RBI, R
- Savage: 2-5, HR, 2 RBI, R, 2 SO

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Babson led Emerson 2-0 heading into their at-bats in the bottom of the 4th, and would exit the inning with a 10-0 lead after plastering on eight runs. First, W. Sadowsky and A. Wilson scored via wild pitches during different at-bats. Next, L. Tanner drove one in with a single to left; B. Savage brought in three with a bases-clearing double; then, J. Nowak brought Tanner around to score on a single to left field before being thrown out at second trying to stretch it into a double; and Sadowsky drove in a run himself with a double to right field. A single by Tanner in the 5th drove in two, making the score 12-0. Emerson cut into the deficit in the 6th inning thanks to a 2-run homer by Briggs Loveland, making it a 12-2 ballgame. The Lions went into the 7th facing the 10-run mercy rule but couldn't get any runs on the board, leading to the first game being called early.

Game 2: Babson got out to an early lead in the second game of the afternoon, as T. Santos scored on a wild pitch. Tanner would then drive one in on a ground out to shortstop. The Beavers opened the game up in the 2nd inning, scoring five runs to get out to a 7-0 lead. Santos drove in two on a single to right-center field. Next, Tanner earned two RBIs of his own on a triple to left-center. Savage drove Tanner in with a single to left for Babson's last run of the frame. The home team would score three more runs by the end of the 6th inning to go up 10-0, punctuated by a one-run homer by Savage. Emerson would get out of the mercy rule situation in the 7th thanks to Justin Fields driving one in on a single center field. The Lions would tack on one more in the eight on another RBI single, this time by Blake Benway. However, Babson would get those two runs back in the bottom of the eight, as a bases-loaded walk and then a hit-by-pitch immediately after made the score 12-2. The game was called not long after due to the mercy rule.

NEXT UP
Baseball will look to break their losing streak as they host Clark in NEWMAC play on Tuesday, April 2 at 3:30 p.m. Emerson has already faced off against Clark once this season, losing 10-2 in Worcester, Mass. on Tuesday, March 26. Clark is sitting on a 16-5 overall record, but is 1-2 against in-conference competition and have lost their last three; the most recent of those losses was a 12-4 defeat by Coast Guard.