NORTAN, MA (April 25, 2024) -- The Tufts University men's baseball team traveled to Wheaton College today to finish a home and home series against the Lyons. The Jumbos won the first game back on April 1, 6-4 at Sol Gittleman Park.
The Jumbos (17-14) gave the ball to first-year Grant Strother, this was Strothers first collegiate start for the Jumbos. He pitched two innings recording a strikeout and only two hits. The Jumbos bats started quickly as they scored two runs in the first inning then two more in the second inning.
In the top of the first senior Patrick Solomon worked a walk to lead off the game then he was moved to third on a single by junior Henry Fleckner, Solomon, and Fleckner both were able to successfully steal a base as Fleckner stole second then Solomon stole home to give the Jumbos a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning first year Malachi Pena added to the Jumbos lead as he brought home Fleckner on a single down the left-field line to give the Jumbos a 2-0 lead.
At the top of the second grad student Connor Flavin worked a walk, he was then moved to third base on a sac bunt from senior Ozzie Fleischer. Flavin would cross home on a wild pitch. Later in the inning, Solomon worked a walk then was driven home by Fleckner on an RBI ground out to give the Jumbos a 4-0 lead.
First-year Michael O'Brien came into the game in the bottom of the third, O'Brien worked two innings recording two strikeouts zero walks on two hits, and one earned run. The one run O'Brien gave up came in the bottom of the third inning on a fielder's choice RBI. O'Brien had a fantastic bottom of the fourth inning retiring the Lyons 1-2-3 with two punch-outs in the inning.
Senior Hunter Beindorff came into the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with the Jumbos up 4-1, he pitched two perfect innings not allowing a base runner recording one strikeout and zero walks on six batters faced.
The Jumbos added another run in the top of the sixth as Solomon drove home first-year Pierson Cooper to extend their lead to 5-1. Cooper worked a walk to start the inning then he was moved to third on a double by Flavin.
The Lyons added their second run of the game in the bottom of the seventh to cut their deficit to 5-2.
The Jumbos would blow the game open in the top of the eighth as four Jumbos crossed the plate. First-year Max Pavlik added his first collegiate RBI on a pinch-hit single to right that scored Fleckner to put the Jumbos up 6-2. Later Pena would add his 35th RBI of the year as he scored Fleckner who was intentionally walked earlier in the inning to give the Jumbos a 7-2 lead. Sophomore Jesse McCullough added an RBI in the inning as he singled to drive home Pavlik to add the eighth run of the day for the Jumbos. Senior John Fritz brought home the last run of the inning as he recorded an RBI single to score Pena to give the Jumbos a 9-2 lead.
Senior Robert Gray came into work in the ninth inning and closed out the Lyons and gave the Jumbos their fourth straight win. The win for the Jumbos also marks head coach Paul Svagdis 800th career win.
Up next for the Jumbos, they will travel home to take on non-conference opponent Clark University in a double-header on Saturday, April 27, at Sol Gittleman Park on a senior day for the Jumbos. The first pitch is scheduled for 12 P.M followed by the nightcap.
-JUMBOS-
