MEDFORD, MA (May 11, 2024) -- The Tufts University baseball team continued play in the NESCAC (New England Small College Athletic Conference) Championships today winning both games at Sol Gittleman Park after dropping the first game to Middlebury yesterday.
Game 1: Tufts 8 Amherst 3
The Jumbos (22-15) gave the ball to junior Jacob Lapp who has been great for Tufts in his last four starts. Lapp was great again today as he pitched a complete game striking out five batters, walking zero, and throwing 105 pitches. He allowed eight hits and three runs.
The Mammoths would strike first in the game as they took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a two-run home run to right center.
The Jumbos would answer in the bottom of the fourth with a huge four-run inning. Junior Henry Fleckner got things started with a leadoff walk then was moved to second on single by sophomore Malcolm Whitfield. Sophomore Jesse McCullough would cut the Mammoth's lead in half with a single up the middle that scored Fleckner. Later in the inning, the Jumbos would find themselves with the bases loaded and two outs, Junior Ben Leonard would come up clutch as he sent a laser to right center that bounced off the wall for a three RBI double to put the Jumbos ahead 4-2.
Lapp would retire the next 13 batters faced, in the bottom of the seventh inning the Jumbos would add three more runs as senior Patrick Solomon hit a two-out triple and then scored on a failed pick-off to make the score 5-2. Later in the inning with two men on Malachi Pena hit a long two RBI double to right center that scored Whitfield and Fleckner to make the score 7-2 in favor of the Jumbos.
The Jumbos would add an insurance run as junior Cooper Smith scored on an error by the Mammoths. The Mammoths would add a run of their own in the top of the ninth on a home run, but it would not be enough as Lapp forced a double play to win the game 8-3.
The Jumbos had four extra-base hits in the game and stole two bases recording seven hits in the game.
Game 2: Tufts 6 Colby 1
In the second game of the day the Jumbos would face off against a familiar foe in Colby College. Earlier this year Colby swept Tufts in a three-game NESCAC East series.
The Jumbos sent out grad student Gavin Brown who has been spectacular for the Jumbos this season. Brown shut down the best offense in the NESCAC, he pitched six scoreless innings striking out five batters, allowing one walk on five hits.
The Jumbos would answer first in the top of the fourth as they scored three runs in the top of the fourth. Grad student Connor Flavin drove a double to right field with two outs and the bases loaded he cleared the bases to give the Jumbos a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Mules were threatening with the bases loaded but Brown left them stranded as he struck out the third out and continued to deal.
In the top of the fifth Solomon hit another triple this time to lead off the inning then was driven home on a ground-rule double to left from Fleckner to give the Jumbos a 4-0 lead. Later in the inning, Fleckner advanced to third on a balk and then scored on a wild pitch to give the Jumbos a 5-0 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth Brown once again pitched out of a bases-loaded jam with no damage done. Junior Connor Podeszwa came into relief for Brown in the seventh inning. Podeszwa completed the three-inning save only allowing a run in the seventh inning.
The Jumbos added an insurance run in the top of the ninth on a McCullough single that scored Solomon. Podeszwa retired the Mules to give the Jumbos the 6-1 win.
Smith went 3-3 in the game and the Jumbos recorded eleven hits in the victory.
The Jumbos will play again tomorrow in game 6 of the NESCAC Championships against Middlebury College with the first pitch at 10:30 A.M.
-JUMBOS-
