WORCESTER, Mass. – The Norwich University baseball team picked up its first two Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) wins of the season in a doubleheader sweep of Anna Maria College Tuesday afternoon.

The Cadets took game one by a score of 5-3 and won the second game 13-2.

In game one the Cadets jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning as freshman LaShawn Thomas (San Antonio, Texas) hit a one-out single to the left side of the infield. Thomas then stole second and came around to score on a RBI double by senior Sean Gerich (Chicago, Ill.)

The lead didn't last for long as the AMCATS struck for three runs in the home half of the frame after John Sullivan hit an RBI double to right field. Matt Leahey then followed with an RBI single and Sullivan later scored on a wild pitch.

The Cadets reclaimed the league for good in the top of the fourth after freshman Tim Haggerty (Medfield, Mass.) leadoff the inning with a walk. After a strikeout sophomore Billy Whaley (Northfield, Vt.) ripped a double down the left field line scoring Haggerty and making it 3-2. Freshman Travis Jacques (Peabody, Mass.) stepped in next and lined a triple to center field scoring Whaley and knotting the game at 3-3. Sophomore Brian Baker (Keene, N.H.) then doubled to left field plating Jacques and making it 4-3 Norwich.

Whaley added an insurance run with a solo home run to lead off the top of the sixth inning.

On top of his offensive prowess Whaley tossed six innings of four-hit baseball allowing three runs (one earned) and five walks while striking out three. He improved to 2-1 on the season.

Sophomore Brian Whaley (St. Louis, Mo.) collected his first save of the season after throwing a perfect seventh inning with one strikeout.

Lucas Davis took the loss for Anna Maria to fall to 0-6. He lasted four innings and surrendered four earned runs on five hits and three walks. He struck out four Cadets.

In game two the Cadets picked up right where they left off as Thomas led off the game with a triple to left field. Gerich grounded into a fielder's choice to score Thomas and give Norwich an early 1-0 edge.

Thomas started the Cadets' next scoring rally in the top of the third with a one-out single to center. After a strikeout senior Devin Cilley (Tunbridge, Vt.) singled through the left side of the infield. Sophomore Cody Lindell (Cranston, R.I.) dug in and ripped a double down the left field line, scoring both Thomas and Cilley and pushing the lead to 3-0.

Norwich blew the game open with a ten-run fourth inning that saw RBI singles from Thomas, senior Charles Schaub (East Hampton, Conn.) and Baker. Lindell added his second two-RBI double of the game and Billy Whaley ripped a two-RBI single. The Cadets batted around and Schaub was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for an additional RBI.

Anna Maria struck for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to make it a 13-2 final.

Junior Brandon Place (Concord, N.H.) picked up the win for Norwich allowing just three hits over four innings of work. He surrendered one walk and struck out four to improve to 1-2 on the season.

Andrew Sawyer was hit with the loss for Anna Maria after three and two-thirds innings of work in which he allowed six earned runs on eight hits and one walk. He struck out one batter.

The Cadets improve to 4-9 overall and 2-5 in the GNAC while the AMCATS fall to 5-15 overall and 2-6 in GNAC play.

Norwich is next in action on Thursday April 10^th for a road contest at Castleton State College. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.