MEDFORD, MA (April 27, 2024) -- The Tufts University men's baseball team extended their win streak to six games Saturday as they defeated Clark University twice in a doubleheader at Sol Gittleman Park. The Jumbos also honored their 11 seniors, on senior day.
Game 1: Tufts 3 Clark 0
The Jumbos (17-14) gave the ball to senior ace Silas Reed to start game 1. Reed finished the day pitching eight strong scoreless innings, striking out six, walking zero batters, and only allowing three hits on 115 pitches. Six of the eight innings, Reed was able to retire the Cougars 1-2-3.
The Jumbos got on the board in the bottom of the second inning. Senior Johnny Briody hit a two-out double down the left field line that moved sophomore Malcolm Whitfield from first to third, then with runners on second and third senior Ozzie Fleischer roped a two-out a two-RBI single up the middle to score both Briody and Whitfield to put the Jumbos ahead first 2-0.
The Jumbos would add another run in the bottom of the fifth. Briody started the inning working a walk then was moved to second by Fleischer on a sac bunt to advance Briody to second. Briody then stole third successfully and was driven home on an RBI single to left from senior Patrick Solomon to put the Jumbos up 3-0.
Senior closer Robert Gray came into the game in the top of the ninth inning looking for his fifth save of the year. Gray worked himself out of a two-out bases-loaded jam by striking out his last batter to give the Jumbos a 3-0 victory.
Reed earned the win as he improved to 5-1 on the season and Gray recorded his fifth save of the year. The Jumbos had four hits in game one. Briody added a second steal on the day as he had two total. Solomon also swiped a base.
Game 2: Tufts 6 Clark 2
In game 2 the Jumbos (18-14) gave the ball to junior Jacob Lapp. Lapp pitched seven innings striking out three allowing two zero walks four hits and two runs.
The Jumbos would strike first as Fleischer scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the third inning to give the Jumbos a 1-0 lead. Fleischer reached base on a hard-hit double down the left field line and then was moved to third on a sac bunt from Solomon.
The Jumbos would add to their lead in the bottom of the fourth as grad student Connor Flavin added two RBIs on a single to left that scored Whitfield and sophomore Jesse McCullough to put the Jumbos ahead 3-0. Flavin, in the bottom of the sixth inning, would add another run for the Jumbos this time a long ball to right center for his fourth homer of the season to put the Jumbos up 4-0.
The Cougars would add two runs in the top of the seventh to cut the Jumbo's lead in half 4-2. The Jumbos would answer back in the bottom half of the inning by scoring their fifth run of the day as Whitfield hit an RBI double that scored senior Jackson Reydel.
Grad student Gavin Brown came into relief in the top of the eighth inning to record a six-out save. In the top of the eighth Brown struck out three allowing one base runner. In the bottom half of the inning, the Jumbos would add an insurance run as junior Henry Fleckner hit an RBI single to right that scored Fleischer.
Brown finished the job in the top of the ninth as he added his fourth strikeout in his two-inning outing to record the save and give the Jumbos a 6-2 win.
Lapp earned the win, improving his record to 4-2 on the season, for Brown his save marks his second on the season. Fleischer and Whitfield went a perfect 4-4 in game 2. First-year Caden Abraham recorded his first collegiate hit in the game. The Jumbos recorded 15 hits.
Up next the Jumbos will take on one final non-conference opponent in WPI on Thursday, May 2, at home on Sol Gittleman Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 5 P.M.
-JUMBOS-
