Box Score 
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Tufts University baseball team scored four runs in the fourth and seventh innings on their way to a 13-5 victory over the #4 University of Lynchburg Hornets on Friday afternoon to continue their undefeated season. Head coach Paul Svagdis' Jumbos are also receiving votes in the D3baseball national poll.
The Hornets (15-4) outhit the Jumbos (10-0) 12-11 in the ball game, but timely hitting and capitalizing on Lynchburg's mistakes were the differences for the Jumbos. Junior Jimmy Evans led the Tufts offense going 3 for 5 with a run scored and four rbis. Sophomore Ozzie Fleischer also had a good day at the plate, finishing 2 for 4 with two runs scored and an rbi. Avery Neaves led the Lynchburg offense, finishing 3 for 4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored. Garrett Jackson and Gavin Collins both went 2 for 5 for the Hornets as Jackson added a run scored and an rbi.
Tufts scored one run in the top of the first when Evans scored on a passed ball after getting on base on a single through the right side, but the Hornets took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning. Jackson hit a two-out double to right field to start the rally, which was followed by consecutive walks from Neaves and PJ Alvanos to bring up Collins. He drove in two runs with a single, but Tufts starting pitcher Cameron Mayer (pictured) was able to get out of the inning without any additional damage.
After two innings of scoreless ball from both teams, Tufts put four runs on the scoreboard in the fourth inning. Kyle Cortese started it off, reaching base and eventually scoring on Lynchburg errors. After Connor Podeszwa singled and Connor Bowman was hit by a pitch, Fleischer drove in Podeszwa with a double through the left side of the infield. Evans cleared the bases with a two-rbi single, giving the Jumbos a 5-2 lead. Each team tacked on one run in the fifth on solo home runs from Tufts' Peter DeMaria and Neaves for the Hornets.
The Jumbos outscored Lynchburg 2-1 in the sixth inning as Fleischer scored on a double play ground ball and Bowman crossed the plate on a wild pitch. Lynchburg's run in the bottom half came on a Logan Webster rbi single to score Josh Gjormand after he was hit by a pitch.
The game was broken open by the Jumbos in the seventh inning as they scored four runs and blanked Lynchburg in the bottom half. Tufts loaded the bases on a Cortese walk, Clay Sowell single and Jackson Duffy walk to bring up Bowman. He drove in Cortese on a ground out and Evans hit a two-run double to right field later in the inning to give Tufts a 12-4 lead heading into the eighth inning where Tufts added one more run on a Lynchburg wild pitch. The Hornets scored one run in the bottom of the ninth inning on a Jackson rbi single to score Eric Hiett after he had a pinch-hit single to start off the inning, ending the game with a Jumbos 13-5 victory.
Mayer got the win for the Jumbos on the mound, pitching five innings and allowing three earned runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts. Justin Wells entered the game in the sixth and pitched three innings allowing one earned run on two hits with four strikeouts. Matt Donato finished off the game in the ninth allowing three hits and an earned run. Lynchburg starter Wesley Arrington was credited with the loss, throwing five innings and allowing one earned run on seven hits with six strikeouts.
Tufts will look to continue its undefeated season at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia on Saturday, March 26th at 1 pm.
Written by Tim O'Brien, Athletic Communications Intern
