JUMBOS TOP AMHERST IN FIRST ROUND OF NESCAC PLAYOFFS

COLLEGE BASEBALL FINAL SCORE
NESCAC Tournament First Round
Tufts 6    Amherst 3

at Pittsfield, MA
Friday, May 11, 2001

T - Jon Lee, Brian Shapiro (8) and Joe Surprenant; A - Jeff Leduc, Jonah Ansell (1), Duncan Webb (4), Chris Vecsey (7) and J.R. Drabick.
WP - Lee (7-1); LP - Ansell (1-1); SV - Shapiro (2).
2B - T, Tim Ayres 2, Evan Zupancic, Todd Boutwell; A - Jarret Solomon, Jordan Krall.

Click here for game box score

Records - T, 20-11-1; A - 19-13.

WILLIAMSTOWN, MA -- The Tufts University Jumbos (20-11-1) emerged victorious in the first round of the NESCAC baseball tournament on Friday against the Amherst Lord Jeffs (19-13). The game ended with the Jumbos on top 6-3 behind the strong pitching of sophomore Jon Lee (Manhasset Hills, NY).

Lee went seven innings, allowing three runs on 11 hits and striking out four.   Sophomore Brian Shapiro (Swampscott, MA) closed the game out for the Jumbos pitching two innings, allowing only one batter to reach base, to record his second save of the season. Amherst ace starting pitcher, junior Jeff Luduc, was forced to leave the game two batters in due to a knee injury. He was replaced by sophomore Jonah Ansell (1-1) who pitched three innings, giving up three runs, to take the loss.

Amherst led 2-1 early behind the bat of sophomore RF Jarret Solomon. He doubled and scored in the first, then hit a run-scoring single in the third. Tufts scored in the first when sophomore 2B Jon Herbert (Davidsonville, MD) reached on a fielder's choice and scored with the help of two wild pitches.

The Jumbos took a 4-2 lead with three runs in the fourth. Junior RF Dan Callahan (Medfield, MA) led off with a single and stole second base, advancing to third on a throwing error on the play. He scored on a single by freshman 3B Dan LaPointe (Everett, MA). Senior co-captain Todd Boutwell (Woburn, MA) then plated the eventual game-winning runs with a double to score two.

Solomon again helped Amherst score in the eighth, pulling the Jeffs within 4-3. After shortstop Justin Krall led off the inning with a double, Solomon brought him in with a sacrifice fly. Tufts gave itself some breathing room with two in the seventh inning. Sophomore CF Evan Zupancic (Lake Oswego, OR) led off with a single and scored on a base hit by Callahan, who then scored on a double by junior 1B Tim Ayres (Irvine, CA). Shapiro came on and faced the minimum six batters in two innings to retired the Jeffs for the day.

Callahan finished 2 for 4 with an RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Ayres was also two for four with a RBI and two doubles. Solomon was two for four (one double) with two RBI and a run scored. Sophomore John Brody and first year Paul Whiting both also had two hits.

The Jumbos will face Williams College at 11 am in the winner's bracket at Wahconah Park in Pittsfield on Saturday. Amherst will play Trinity College in a loser's bracket elimination game at the same time.

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