WHITTIER, CA (March 23, 2024) - The Tufts University Jumbos played the last two games of their California trip on Saturday. The Jumbos faced off against Whittier College at Hugh Mendez Stadium.
Game 1: Jumbos 14 Poets 0
In game one the Jumbos exploded for 14 runs in five innings of play. In part to their 14-run victory, they hit 3 long balls and got excellent starting pitching from Senior ace Silas Reed as he pitched five shutout innings recording a season-high of nine strikeouts and facing 24 batters, Reed also received the win.
The Jumbos offense exploded in the first game as they got things going early with a lead-off home run from Ben Leonard in the top of the first to put the Jumbos up 1-0 quickly. The Jumbos would collect three more runs in the top of the inning to take a 4-0 lead on the Poets.
The Jumbos would add two more runs in the top of the second inning as junior Henry Fleckner would add his second home run of the season on a 2-run long ball to left center to put the Jumbos up 6-0. The Jumbos would grab four more runs in the top of the third highlighted by another home run this time it was a 3-run shot to left hit by sophomore Owen McKiernan to put the Jumbos up 10-0 on the day.
The Jumbos would add four more runs in the fifth inning to get their 14-0 final. Senior Patrick Solomon went 3-3 in the game, Fleckner went 3-4, first-year Malachi Pena went 2-3 with a walk, and Senior Ozzie Fleischer grabbed his fourth double on the year. The Jumbos had 14 hits on the day with zero errors.
Game 2: Jumbos 10 Poets 0
The Jumbos (7-6) got more phenomenal pitching in game two as grad student Gavin Brown pitched seven complete shutout innings striking out seven batters on the day facing 25 total batters only walking one. He also kept the Poets to three hits on the day.
The bats for the Jumbos would also stay alive in the second game as they recorded 11 hits in seven innings. In the top of the third inning, Pena hit his team-leading third home run on the season as it was a long ball down the left field line that scored three and put the Jumbos on the board 3-0.
In the top of the fourth Fleischer recorded a single which was his 100th career hit as a Jumbo, later in the inning Fleckner would add an RBI sac fly to score senior Connor Brala who worked a walk earlier in the inning to get on base to give the visitors a 4-0 lead. In the top of the fifth inning, the Jumbos would add three more runs highlighted by a Solomon RBI single and a Brala RBI double to make the score 7-0.
The Jumbos would add their final three runs in the top of the seventh inning as Solomon touched home on a throwing error. Fleckner added the last two runs on a 2 RBI single.
Sophomore Jesse McCullough worked three walks, added a double in the game, and came around to score once. Solomon went 3-4 on the day, senior Jackson Reydel went 2-3 scoring once as well and Fleckner had three RBIs. The Jumbos also stole two bases on the day.
The Jumbos will travel home after a week of being out in California. They will come back home to face off against non-conference opponent Umass Boston on Wednesday, March 27 at Sol Gittleman Park on the Campus of Tufts University. The first pitch will be at 3 P.M.
