HARTFORD, CT (May 8, 2026) – The Tufts University baseball team resumed play as the top seed in the East Division in the NESCAC (New England Small Athletic Conference) tournament this afternoon. The Jumbos handled the Panthers, 14-7, in mostly sunny conditions at Murren Family Field.
 
The Jumbos (28-9, 8-4 NESCAC), gave ace Cole Donato the start for this critical opening contest. The senior earned his eighth win of the season with four strikeouts and one earned run on six hits in eight full innings on the mound.
 
In the bottom of the first inning, Tufts batted around and poured on six runs to take a commanding lead. Jack Kamin continued his breakout season with a triple to deep right center field. Tate Bannish then walked and on a hectic bunt sequence from Malcolm Whitfield that saw all runners safe, Kamin was able to score on a throwing error by the Middlebury pitcher. Tom Pender (1), Jesse McCullough (2), and James Henshon (1) batted in the remaining five runs of the frame.
 
Tufts pushed their lead to double digits with four more runs in the following inning. Whitfield walked, stole second, scored after Pender picked up his second RBI of the day with a single into left field. Caden Abraham (1) and McCullough (2) brought home the other three runs to make it a 10-0 score.
 
The Panthers reached the scoreboard with one run in the top of the third. With two outs recorded, Joe Basso homered to deep center field making it a 10-1 game.
 
Owen McKiernan brought home Whitfield with an RBI base knock up the middle in the bottom of the third and Whitfield scored Kamin and Henshon in the fourth to extend the lead to 12.
 
The Panther and Jumbos posted a run each in the sixth and seventh innings respectively, making it a 14-2 score. Middlebury went on to score five runs in the ninth to finish the contest with a 14-7 final.
 
The Jumbos finished with six players that had two or more hits in the contest. Kamin, Whitfield, and McKiernan each had three, while Pender, Abraham, and McCullough each had two.
 
The Jumbos will play tomorrow at 2 PM against the winners of game 2 today between Trinity (Conn.) and Amherst which starts at 5 PM.