MANSFIELD, Conn. – Eight batters who reached base via walk or error came around to score and the Eastern Connecticut State University baseball team broke a tie with seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning in a 13-4 non-conference win over Wesleyan University Wednesday afternoon at the Eastern Baseball Stadium.

After Wesleyan (9-4) scored twice in the fourth and twice in the top of the fifth to tie the game at 4-all, Eastern (8-5) sent 12 batters to the plate in the bottom of the fifth, pushing across seven runs on just two hits but aided by three Cardinal infield errors and four walks.  Four of the batters who reached on error or walk eventually scored among the five unearned runs in the inning.

Two walks opened the fifth and senior second baseman Collin Russell (Sandwich, MA) plated the first two runs with a first-pitch single and junior shortstop and No. 9 hitter Dale Keller (Oxford) later stroked an RBI double for the fifth run of the inning.

Russell also drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the game to give him three RBI on the day, with junior third baseman Alex Parkos (Meriden) adding two hits, as did catcher and No. 8 hitter Merlyn Herrera and Keller. Both of Keller's hits were doubles.

Senior first baseman and cleanup hitter D.J. Scavone's (Auburn, MA) leadoff home run – his fourth of the season – sparked a three-run second inning, and Russell's sacrifice fly made it 4-0 in the third before Wesleyan got two back in the fourth in chasing Eastern junior righty starter Jason Staub (Portland) – who was making his first since 2016 -- then tied the game, 4-4, when lefty-swinging Chase Pratt homered to right off freshman lefty John Ferrara (Northampton, MA). Ruddock, junior righty Cole Ogorzalek (Portland), sophomore righty Sam Gagnon (Andover) and freshman righty Ryan Sheehan (Southington) combined to shut out the Cardinals on five hits over the final four innings, throwing 33 of their 54 pitches for strikes.

Scavone reached three times on his home run and two walks (both coming in the fifth inning)  and scored twice, and Alexander White walked twice (once intentionally), scored twice and stole two bases. Pratt was Wesleyan's only multiple hitter. He had two hits and also reached on a hit-by-pitch in Wesleyan's nine-hit attack.

The second of six pitchers, Ferrara was credited with his first career win in his third appearance. He was charged with two runs in 1 2/3 innings when Wesleyan tied the game in the top of the fifth, but was the recipient of Eastern's seven-run bottom of the fifth. Ruddock and Gagnon each pitched a scoreless inning in their first appearances of the season, each allowing one hit.

Defensively, Eastern played error-free for the fourth straight game and sixth time this year. Keller has started every game at shortstop and has handled 70 chances without an error.

Eastern hosts Albertus Magnus College Thursday at 4 p.m.

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