Box Score
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Eric Weikert squeezed home a go-ahead run in the top of the ninth
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GREENSBORO, NC - A long day of baseball came to a disappointing end on Tuesday night as Tufts lost 5-4 in the 13th inning at Greensboro College. Senior 2B Matthew Parker's rbi walk-off single in the bottom of the 13th inning gave The Pride the win.
The loss was the first of their spring trip for Tufts (5-1). They had started the day with an 11-10 win at Averett in a game that began at 1:30 pm. They packed up and headed to Greensboro for a 7 pm start and went 13 innings with the game ending shortly before 11 pm.
Greensboro had led 2-1 going into the ninth inning before Tufts took the lead by posting two runs to make it 3-2. Sophomore pinch hitter Matthew Luciani (Woodbrige, CT) led off with a walk and then sophomore catcher Nick Barker (Weymouth, MA) reached on an error. Senior SS Scott Staniewicz (Boca Raton, FL) followed with a bunt single to load the bases. Sophomore LF James Howard (Rockville Centre, NY) walked to score pinch-runner Connor McDavitt (Holden, MA). Senior RF Eric Weikert (Avondale Estates, GA) then executed a squeeze bunt to score Barker and give Tufts a 3-2 lead.
The Pride had to rally in the bottom half of the ninth inning to force extra innings. Kyle Willard led off with a pinch hit single through the right side. James Wilkins pinch ran and advanced to second on a passed ball. Steven Pfeiffer singled up the middle, pushing the tying run across to make it 3-3.
In the 11th inning, the Jumbos scored a run to take a 4-3 lead. Barker walked to start it and was sacrificed to second by Staniewicz. Howard followed with an rbi single up the middle for his second clutch rbi of the game.
However, the Pride again battled back in the bottom half of the inning. Matt Irwin singled up the middle and advanced to second on an error. James Feldmann and Christian Snider each walked to load the bases. Parker drew a bases load walk to tie the game back up at 4-4.
The Pride held Tufts scoreless in the 12th and 13th innings before winning the game in the bottom half of the 13th inning. Feldmann singled through the left side to get the inning going. Snider singled to center field, advancing Feldmann to second. Both runners moved up a base on a balk by the pitcher. Parker would come up huge again this time with the game-winning single to the shortstop.
The Pride had got on the board first with Pfeiffer singling through the right side bringing in Parker in the fourth inning. Tufts tied the score in the fifth as Howard walked and stole second, was sacrificed to third by Weikert, and scored on a ground out by freshman DH Mike Barry (Sudbury, MA). Greensboro added a run in the eighth and seemed to have the game in control until the late comeback by the Jumbos.
The Pride outhit their opponents 13-7. Four Greensboro players - Bill Wooding, Irwin, Pfeiffer, and Parker – each recorded two hits. Pfeiffer and Parker had a game-high two runs batted in. Kristopher Peeden notched the win on the mound in relief.
Staniewicz was 3 for 4 at the top of the Tufts order. Howard finished 2 for 4 with two rbi and a run scored. Sophomore starter Kyle Slinger (Danville, CA) was strong for the Jumbos, going six innings allowing five hits and one run with six strikeouts and no walks. Sophomore Joe Harrington (Burke, VA) took the loss in relief.
Tufts plays at Methodist on Wednesday in a 4 pm start. Greensboro (12-13) will look to get back to .500 tomorrow with a game against St. Andrews. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm.
Game Box Score
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Part of game recap courtesy of Greensboro College
