CAMBRIDGE, MA (April 10, 2024) - The Tufts University men's baseball team continued non-conference play as they travelled to MIT to face-off against the Engineers at Fran O'Brien Field on the campus of MIT. The Jumbos bested the Engineers 9-1.
The Jumbos (13-9) gave the ball to sophomore Michael O'Brien, O'Brien was lights out today as he pitched four scoreless innings striking out three batters allowing zero walks. The Jumbos bats came alive in the top of the first as they scored four runs on two hits, the inning was highlighted by two RBI double's first senior Jackson Reydel hit a line drive to left field that scored first-year Malachi Pena then a few batters later grad student Connor Flavin scored Reydel on a double to left-center to put the Jumbos up 4-0 in the top of the first.
The Jumbos had one run in the next three innings in the top of the second inning. Senior Ozzie Fleischer led off with a single then stole second base. He would eventually move to third on a wild pitch then score on a passed ball to get the Jumbos lead to 5-0.
In the top of the third inning sophomore catcher Malcolm Whitfield brought Flavin home with a fielder's choice to shortstop to give the Jumbos a 6-0 lead. In the top of the fourth Pena scored on a throwing error by the Engineers to put the visitors up 7-0.
In the top of the fifth the Jumbos would score their last two runs of the game thanks to a two-RBI double by Sophomore Jesse McCullough to give the Jumbos a 9-0 lead, In the bottom of the fifth inning senior Hunter Beindorff came into relieve O'Brien, Beindorff pitched three scoreless innings striking out a batter. Sophomore Charlie Biskupiak came into the game in the bottom of the eighth and worked a scoreless inning.
The Engineers would get their lone run in the bottom of the ninth on a single by Zev Moore that scored Eitan Moore.
The Jumbos collected 12 hits in the game and swiped six bases in the game. McCullough went 3-5 in the game, and Pena went 2-3. O'Brien got his first collegiate win of the year (1-2).
Up next for the Jumbos they will head home for more New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play, as Colby College will come to Sol Gittleman Park to face off against the Jumbos in a three-game set. The first game is scheduled for Friday, April 12, with the first pitch at 4 P.M.
