MEDFORD, MA (March 8, 2023) – Sophomore second baseman
Henry Fleckner went 2 for 4 with three rbis and junior SS
Ozzie Fleischer was 2 for 2 with two runs and an rbi helping the Tufts University baseball team take a 9-3 victory over visiting Brandeis University at Sol Gittleman Park on Wednesday.
The Judges (1-2) had opened the game with a lead-off home run by senior CF Sam Nugent. However, Tufts (2-0) tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the first on a double from sophomore LF
Ben Leonard an ground ball RBI by senior RF
Jimmy Evans.
The Jumbos then scored twice in the bottom of the second to take a 3-1 advantage, and they would stay a step ahead of the Judges the rest of the way. Junior first baseman
Todd Stawiecki led off the second with double and was singled to third by Fleischer. Stawiecki scored on a failed pick-off attempt, and then a long fly ball by Fleckner that bounced off the turf and over the fence for a ground-run double scored Fleischer.
Junior
Silas Reed started on the hill for the Jumbos and allowed just the lead-off home run. In his fourth and final inning, he got a strike out with the bases loaded. He finished his stint allowing three hits with seven strikeouts and five walks.
The Jumbos added to their lead in the fourth when senior CF
Jackson Duffy tripled to right-center and scored on Fleischer's sac fly to center making it 4-1. However, the Judges would stay close with a solo home run from senior RF Steven Simon off senior reliever
Matt Donato with two outs in the fifth.
Tufts responded in the bottom of the inning as junior third baseman
Patrick Solomon was hit by a pitch and stole second. He scored when senior catcher
Connor Bowman laced a double off the glove of the Brandeis left fielder for a 5-2 Tufts lead.
Fleischer was in the middle of another Jumbo scoring play in the sixth. He singled hard off the pitcher with one out, smartly took second on a wild pitch and then stole third. He scored on Leonard's single to center for a 6-2 Tufts advantage.
The game went to the eighth with the hosts holding the four-run advantage. However, walks to Brian King and Drew Michaud set up a run-scoring single from pinch hitter Aidan Schleer pulling Brandeis within 6-3. With the tying run at the plate, Tufts fifth-year reliever
Brendan McFall got a foul out and a ground ball to stop the Judge rally.
The Jumbos then scored three times in the bottom of the eighth with Fleckner hitting a two-run single and executing a double steal with Leonard. Tufts finished the game with six stolen bases.
McFall pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to finish off his save. Tufts pitching allowed just six hits though they walked eight. Freshman
Jack McLaughlin pitched 2.1 innings of no-hit relief, though he did walk three and allow a run. McFall got five outs while allowing just one hit.
Leonard joined Fleckner and Fleischer as Jumbos with two hits, while Duffy also scored twice.
First-year Alex Kim had two of Brandeis' hits. Junior Sean Decker-Jacoby took the pitching loss, giving up five hits and five runs in 4.1 innings.
--JUMBOS--
