MEDFORD, MA (March 11, 2026) – The Tufts University baseball team stunned Johnson & Wales University with a 7-6 comeback win in rainy conditions at Sol Gittleman Park on Wednesday afternoon in non-conference play as the Jumbos remain undefeated on the young season.
The Jumbos (5-0, 0-0 NESCAC) started with
Mark Herlihy on the mound. Besides allowing a home run shot to the second batter of the game, Herlihy refocused and struck out three batters. Herlihy did not register a decision and produced 3.0 solid innings.
Jack Obert put the Wildcats on top 1-0 as the second batter of the contest with a solo long ball to right center. The Jumbos responded quickly in the bottom of the first to bring the game back to even.
AJ Lysko singled into left field and then advanced to second after a wild pitch by Brady Morin.
Tate Bannish continued his blazing hot start with an RBI single into left field that scored Lysko.
Herlihy and
Mitchell Hwang held Johnson & Wales scoreless from the second through the sixth innings as they totaled six strikeouts together through that stretch. Hwang allowed just one hit along with no walks and no earned runs.
The Wildcats tallied four runs in the top of the seventh to take a 5-1 lead. With the bases loaded Henry Melanson launched a sacrifice fly to center field to bring one home and advance the other two base runners. Ryan Ducey and Jack Obert hit back-to-back doubles to tack on three more runs before the end of the half-inning.
Tufts cut the deficit to just two in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Caden Abraham reached on a fielder's choice,
Jesse McCullough singled up the middle send Abraham to second,
Malcolm Whitfield hit an RBI single to right field that sent Abraham home, and
James Henshon hit an RBI ground out that let McCullough cross home from third base.
Johnson & Wales put one more run on the board in the top of the eighth to give them a 6-3 advantage. The Jumbos would not quit and knotted the game at six in the bottom of the eighth inning. With the bases loaded McCullough doubled to right field and emptied the bases for Tufts to tie the game.
Derek Desmarais came in for the top of the ninth inning and captured the win with a much needed 1-2-3 inning that included two strikeouts.
In the bottom of the ninth, Bannish hit a lead off double down the left field line and
Owen McKiernan followed with a double of his own in deep left center to send Bannish home for the walk-off victory.
Tufts travels to San Antonio, TX on Saturday to take on Trinity University (TX) at 3 PM.
--JUMBOS--
