Box Score MEDFORD – Senior third baseman Tommy O'Hara hit a three-run triple in the fourth and a two-run double in the sixth as the Tufts University baseball team built a 15-1 lead and held on for a 15-12 victory over Eastern Connecticut State University in non-conference action Monday afternoon at Huskins Field.
The visiting Warriors (19-14) scored 11 runs in the eighth inning to close within three, but the Jumbos (18-14) were able to finish off the victory in their 2018 home finale.
The Jumbos scored in five of the first six innings. Senior 1B Nick Falkson and senior RF Malcolm Nachmanoff both hit rbi singles in the first as Tufts took a 2-0 advantage. Those were two of the nine Tufts players recognized on Seniors Day.
Eastern closed the margin to 2-1 with a single run in the third. Senior Mike Funaro reached by fielder's choice and scored on a double by junior 3B Alex Parkos.
Tufts would score 12 runs in the fourth through sixth innings, including five in the fourth and six in the sixth. In addition to O'Hara's bases-clearing triple in the fourth, Falkson also doubled home a run and scored. A single by sophomore 2B Elias Varinos, a double from sophomore CF Justin Mills and a ground out by sophomore catcher Ryan Day gave Tufts its run in the fifth. Junior DH John Moschella supported O'Hara in the sixth with an rbi double and run scored.
Senior starter Ian Kinney went six innings for the Jumbos allowing five hits and one run with six K's and two walks. He departed with the Jumbos leading by 14. After a scoreless seventh though, the Warriors sent 15 men to the plate in the eighth and 11 scored. Sophomore Jake LeFevre, junior Dale Keller and freshman Kevin Murphy all had rbi singles early in the frame. Junior Alexander White and senior Collin Russell added run-scoring base hits later before senior D.J. Scavone struck the biggest blow with a three-run home run pulling the visitors within 15-11.
Jumbo freshman reliever Jamie Weiss gave up the home run and one more run, but recovered nicely to record the final two outs of the eighth. He then quieted the Warriors in the ninth to close out the victory. That made a winner out of Kinney, who improved to 2-2.
Nachmanoff and Moschella both had three hits for the Jumbos, who finished with 14. Day scored three times and Moschella had three rbis.
Eastern used six pitchers with starter Sam Gagnon taking the loss. He allowed five hits and seven runs in 3.1 innings. Scavone finished 2 for 5 with three rbis and two runs for the visitors. Russell came off the bench to go 2 for 3 with 2 runs and an rbi.
Tufts travels to UMass Dartmouth for non-league action Wednesday. Eastern Connecticut hosts Manhattanville the same day.
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