MEDFORD, MA (May 2, 2024) -- The Tufts University men's baseball team played in their last game of the regular season Thursday night against non conference opponent WPI at Sol Gittleman Park on the campus of Tufts University, earning a 13-2 weather-shortened win after four and a half innings.
The Jumbos (20-14) gave the ball to first-year Michael O'Brien. O'Brien worked two innings giving up zero runs and zero walks on two hits. The Jumbos used four pitchers on the day including senior Justin Wells who made his first appearance of the season after returning from injury.
The Jumbos bats got going quickly; in the bottom of the first senior Patrick Solomon ripped a triple to right to lead off the game. The next batter, junior Henry Fleckner would home Solomon on an RBI single to right field to put the Jumbos on the board 1-0.
In the bottom of the second, the Jumbos added four more runs. Senior Ozzie Fleischer got the scoring started as he dropped a perfect bunt single that scored junior Cooper Smith. Smith walked to lead off the inning then was moved to second on a single from grad student Connor Flavin. Fleckner brought home Flavin on a hard-hit ground out to shortstop. The Jumbos got two more runs in the inning thanks to a two-RBI single to left from junior Ben Leonard that brought home Solomon and Fleischer to give the Jumbos a 5-0 lead.
The Engineers would get a run back in the top of the third on a solo home run by Jacob Hand.
The Jumbos bats would not slow in the bottom of the third as they added six runs in the inning. Sophomore Jesse McCullough led off with a triple then was scored on another triple by Flavin for the first run of the inning. Fleischer would add another RBI on the day as he singled to left to bring home Flavin. First-year Malachi Pena opened the game with a three RBI double to give the Jumbos an 11-1 lead.
The Jumbos would add two more runs in the bottom of the fourth on two RBIs from Solomon to give the Jumbos a 13-1 lead. The Engineers added one more run in the top of the fifth before the game was stopped due to weather conditions. The game was eventually called and the Jumbos received the win as the game was official after the top of the fifth.
Solomon was 3-3 on the day and Fleischer finished the day 2-2 with a walk and three runs scored. Fleckner, Leonard, and Smith all stole a base. O'Brien was given the win as his record goes to 2-3. The Jumbos had 13 hits with zero errors on the night.
Up next the Jumbos will take on Hamilton College at home in a double header Saturday May 4, in the NESCAC (New England Small College Athletic Conference) quarterfinals. The first game is scheduled for 12 P.M.
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