NORTON, MA (taken from a Wheaton College press release) - Wheaton College hurler Chris McDonough (Weymouth, MA) continued his stellar sophomore campaign Saturday afternoon with his third complete game of the season while leading the region's top baseball team to its 18th straight victory with a 4-1 non-conference decision over Brandeis University at Sidell Stadium.

Entering the game with a number-seven national ranking according to the American Baseball Coaches Association(ABCA), the Lyons saw their overall record improve to 25-6. The Judges dropped their second straight contest to fall to 17-11-1 on the season.

All of today's scoring transpired over the first three innings, and four of the five runs went down as being unearned, as Wheaton used a three-run second to erase a 1-0 deficit. Brandeis took advantage of a two-out error in the top half of the second, with senior Phil Aurigemma(Westborough, MA) singling home the Judges' lone run.

In the home half of the second, the Lyons capitalized on a Brandeis defensive miscue with two down, as junior Adam Laplante (Harwich, MA)scored on the error to knot the game at one. Juniors Travis Anthoine (Portland, ME) and Brandon Leonard(Brockton, MA) followed with back-to-back RBI singles to give Wheaton a 3-1 lead.

The hosts tacked on their four run in the third when sophomore Scott Guillerault (South Portland, ME) opened the frame with a single to left, advanced to second on a sacrifice from sophomore Pat O'Connor (Mattapoisett, MA) and scored on senior Mark Baumer's (Durham, ME)ground-rule double to left.

McDonough went to work in the third, retiring 14 straight batters over the course of five innings before Judge junior Jeff Bourdon (North Adams, MA) singled to center with two outs in the seventh. Following the hit, McDonough set down the final seven batters to collect his fifth win of the year. Lowering his season earned run average to 1.27, McDonough fanned nine batters with no walks and four hits allowed.

Sophomore Craig Letendre (Acushnet, MA) suffered the loss, allowing just one earned run on six hits with two strikeouts and no walks in three innings. A fleet of four Brandeis relief pitchers combined for five scoreless innings with four strikeouts, two hits allowed and zero walks. Baumer was the game's lone multiple hitter, going 2-for-4 with a
pair of doubles and an RBI.