MEDFORD, MA (March 7, 2026) – The Tufts University baseball team swept a closely contested double-header with Hobart College in cloudy conditions at Sol Gittleman Park as the Jumbos opened their season with two victories in non-conference play against the Statesmen on Saturday afternoon.
The Jumbos (2-0, 0-0 NESCAC) started game one with
Paul McCarthy on the bump, who started off slinging by not allowing a hit through 5.1 innings of play. The Statesmen scored an unearned run in the top of the sixth inning to give them a 1-0 lead.
Jesse McCullough knotted the game at one in the bottom of the seventh inning with a sacrifice fly ball to right field.
Tim McGrath tagged up from third base and crossed home, giving the Jumbos their first run of the season.
With the game going into extras,
Mitchell Hwang delivered 2.1 scoreless innings to give the Jumbos an opportunity to capture a victory in their first game of the season.
James Henshon opened the bottom of the eighth with a triple to deep right field.
AJ Lysko followed with a walk and then stole second.
Tate Bannish walked it off for Tufts with a sacrifice fly to left field, while Henshon scored on the tag from third.
Hwang registered the win in game one with 2.1 innings thrown, two strikeouts, and just one walk allowed.
In Game 2,
Cole Donato got the nod to be the starting arm for the Jumbos and conceded just one earned run through 4.2 innings of action, while allowing 4 hits and capturing the win. Donato did also hit two batters but mostly remained in control with four strikeouts.
Jack McLaughlin relieved Donato in the middle of the fifth inning and produced 0.1 innings of perfection with no hits, no walks, and no runs.
The Jumbos jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning.
Cole Bohane,
Jack Kamin, and McCullough walked to open the frame.
Malcolm Whitfield reached first on a fielder's choice to load the bases. The Statesmen walked Henshon which drove in a run making it 1-0.
Owen McKiernan launched a sacrifice fly ball to right field that drove in McCullough from third.
Bannish continued his electric opening day with his first collegiate-career home run to give the Jumbos a 4-1 advantage in the bottom of the fifth. Bannish finished the day 2-7 with three RBIs. McKiernan stretched the Jumbo lead to 5-1 with an RBI triple to left field that sent Henshon home from first base.
Derek Desmarais finished off game two for Tufts with 2.0 innings pitched, two strikeouts, and the save.
Tufts will be back in action tomorrow for another doubleheader matchup against Hobart College with a 12 PM start.
--JUMBOS--
