Box Score
MEDFORD - Eastern Connecticut sophomore 3B Mike Vaccarelli (Wolcott, CT) hit a two-run triple that highlighted a four-run sixth inning as the Warriors came from behind to defeat Tufts, 6-5, in non-conference college baseball action on Monday afternoon at Huskins Field.
The win is the fifth straight for Eastern, which improves to 27-9 overall. The Warriors were ranked 16th in last week's D3Baseball.com poll. The Jumbos lost their foruth in a row, dropping to 20-12.
The hosts went in front 2-0 on a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the third. Junior 2B Billy Collins (Hanston, MA) led off with a double, took third on a wild pitch and soon scored on an error. Senior SS Sam Sager (Cranston, RI) reached on a fielder's choice and also scored with the help of a wild pitch and an error.
Eastern cut the lead in half in the top of the fourth as freshman Steve Bizzaro (Wappingers Falls, NY) led off with a single. He went to third on a single by junior 1B Joe Balowski (Berlin, CT) and scored on a sac fly by sophomore DH T.J. Larivee (Salem, MA).
Tufts added another unearned run in fourth to lead 3-1. Sophomore RF Nate Izzo (Saunderstown, RI) singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch. The teams traded runs in the fifth with Eastern sophomore LF Adam Roderick (West Hartford, CT) hitting a one-out triple and scoring on a sac fly by Vaccarelli (three rbi). The Jumbos went ahead 4-2 as senior 1B Matt Collins (Hopkinton, MA) was hit by a pitch and scored on a sac fly by freshman 3B Wade Hauser (Palo Alto, CA).
Eastern would score all four of its runs after two were out in the sixth. Balowski walked with one out and moved to second on a two-out single through the right side by sophomore SS Danny O'Connell (Braintree, MA). Senior catcher Steve Cammuso (Rutland, MA) singled home the first run and then O'Connell scored on a passed ball. After a walk to Roderick, Vaccarelli's triple made it 6-4.
The Jumbos pulled within 6-5 as freshman CF Connor McDavitt (Holden, MA) singled to lead off the sixth and scored on a sac fly by Collins. However, Warrior relievers Matt Purnell (Stafford Springs, CT) and Michael Hepple (Newington, CT) combined to retire nine of the 10 batters they faced in the seventh through ninth innings to finish off the win.
Balowski (2 for 3, run) and O'Connell (2 for 4, run) led Eastern's nine-hit attack. Roderick scored twice. Evan Chamberlain (Amston, CT) was the pitcher of record, improving to 4-1 with one inning of work. Hepple recorded his third save with a 1-2-3 ninth.
Izzo was 2 for 4 with a run for Tufts, which finished with eight hits. Freshmen Kyle Slinger (Danville, CA) and Joe Harrington (Burke, VA) both pitched two scoreless innings for Tufts. Freshman Tom Ryan (Walpole, MA) took the loss (0-2).
Tufts finishes its season with a double-header against Middlebury on Sunday starting at 1 pm. Eastern is at Amherst on Wednesday at 4 pm.
Game box score
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