MEDFORD, MA (March 31, 2023) -- The Tufts University baseball team scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth, breaking open a 5-5 game to open New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play with a 9-5 victory in action from Sol Gittleman Park Friday afternoon on a chilly day in Medford.
It was a back-and-forth affair all day, as both teams answered each other multiple times. Tufts (8-5, 1-0 NESCAC) got on the board first in the bottom of the first, as
Ben Leonard singled to start the game for the Jumbos, coming around to score on a RBI groundout by
Jimmy Evans.
Connor Flavin and
Jackson Duffy each walked, and
Owen McKiernan delivered with a RBI single to center to bring around Flavin.
The Bobcats (8-5, 0-1 NESCAC) wasted no time deadlocking the game in the top of the second, as Noah Jankowski sprayed a two-run double down the left-field line.
The Jumbos got the lead back in the bottom of the fourth inning, as McKiernan powered his first collegiate homerun out over the right-field wall to give Tufts a 3-2 lead. The edge for the Jumbos was short-lived, as Drew Fallon homered for Bates to make it 3-3 and Tyler Attal hit a long two-run shot to center field to put the Bobcats up midway through the game.
Once again though the trailing team wouldn't waste any time getting the runs back, as
Patrick Solomon singled with one out, stole second base and then came around on a two-run blast by senior
Jimmy Evans. It was the first homer of the season for Evans, and his ninth of his Tufts' career.
The game would stay locked at 5-5, as both teams were able to work out of jams until the bottom of the eighth.
Ozzie Fleischer started the rally with a bunt single, and
Henry Fleckner was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Leonard came up and delivered the eventual game-winning RBI single, as Fleischer scampered around to make it 6-5.
Tufts wouldn't take the foot off the pedal, as Fleckner scored on a passed ball and Evans later drove in Leonard with a single to center field. The Jumbos tacked on another run to make it 9-5, and
Brendan McFall came out of the bullpen to work a 1-2-3 ninth to seal the win.
Aidan Tucker worked three strong innings out of the bullpen to get his first win of the season, allowing just three hits while striking out three Bobcat hitters.
Connor Kinney allowed four runs on seven hits as the starter, striking out two.
Offensively, Tufts continued to make their way around the base paths at will, stealing eight bases in nine attempts Friday. Leonard was 2-for-5 with two runs, two stolen bases and a RBI, while Evans finished 2-for-5 with four RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. Solomon stole two bases and scored twice, and McKiernan was 2-for-5 with two RBI as well. Flavin finished 2-for-4 with a run, stolen base and hit by pitch, and Fleckner swiped two bases for Tufts.
Henry Jamieson was 3-for-3 for Bates Friday, and Jankowski and Fallon each added two hits in the loss.
The Jumbos and Bobcats will take Saturday off due to the rain scheduled, but will be back on Gittleman Park Sunday at 1 p.m. to finished the three-game conference set with a pair of contests.
--JUMBOS--
