Box Score Recap courtesy of MIT
HAMPTON, VA – A pair of two-run innings, one in the bottom of the ninth and another in the bottom of the 13th, lifted the MIT baseball team to its first victory of the season as the Engineers took a dramatic, 5-4, win over Tufts University at War Memorial Stadium Saturday afternoon. Junior John Drago brought home the winning run against the Jumbos with a squeeze bunt.
Tufts (2-1) had gone up 4-3 in the top of the 13th on an RBI groundout by John Moschella. A single and a walk and a stolen base put runners on second and third for MIT (1-4) for freshman Jared Schwait, whose grounder to short wound up a run-scoring fielder's choice to tie the game. Drago then executed the squeeze, scoring sophomore David Heller with the game-winner.
After Tufts started the game with single runs in the first on an RBI single by Nick Falkson and in the second on fielder's choice by Cody McCallum, it became a pitching dual. Jumbos starter Andrew David blanked MIT on four hits over the first eight innings, while sophomore Will Loucks allowed just the two early runs over 5.2 innings. Senior Michael Wymer followed Loucks with 4.1 innings of work, allowing one run on five hits.
MIT notched its first dramatic two-run inning in the ninth to send the contest to extra innings. With two out and two on, senior Alec Echevarria drew a walk to load the bases for Schwait who stroked a single to center to tie it up.
Tufts came right back and took the lead on a one-out RBI single by Christian Zazzali, but MIT responded in its half of the 10th with a lead-off single by sophomore Garrett Greenwood that was followed by an RBI double by sophomore Austin Filiere.
Senior Eric Tu tossed a pair of scoreless innings, striking out four, while freshman Zeke Long, who gave up the run in the 13th, was made the winner by Drago's hit. Drago, Nate Rodman, Max Lancaster, and David Heller all had two hits for MIT.
David went 8.1 innings in his start for the Jumbos, allowing the two runs on five hits while striking out 10. McCallum was 3 for 6 with two runs and an rbi atop the Tufts order. Falkson and junior RF Oscar Kutch also had three hits for Tufts, who finished with 13.
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