BACKSTROM DRIVES IN SEVEN AS TUFTS HAMMERS BENTLEY, 17-7
COLLEGE BASEBALL FINAL SCORE
Tufts 17 Bentley 7
At Waltham, MA
Tuesday, April 6, 2004
WALTHAM, Mass. – Freshman designated hitter Kyle Backstrom (Worcester, MA) had four hits, including three doubles, and seven RBI as Tufts University erupted for a 17-7 win over Bentley College in non-conference college baseball at DeFelice Field Tuesday afternoon.
After falling behind 4-0, Tufts (9-6) battled back with two runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth, and then broke it open with a six-run sixth. The Jumbos, who pounded out 19 hits, added to their lead with three runs in both the seventh and eighth, and one more in the ninth.
In the sixth, sophomore RF Matt Clement (Norwood, MA) broke the 4-4 tie with a two-run single. After a walk, a two-run double by Backstrom made it 8-4, and another two-run double by freshman centerfielder Chris Decembrele (Walpole, MA) pushed the advantage to 10-4.
Backstrom's day also included an infield single in the first, an RBI double in the fourth, another two-run double in the seventh and getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the eighth.
Junior catcher Bob Kenny (Milford, MA) also had four hits for Tufts, with three runs scored. Decembrele was 3 for 5 with two doubles, a triple and three RBI, and Clement finished with two hits, two RBI and two runs scored. Everyone in the Jumbos' starting lineup had at least one hit, nine different players scored runs and eight recorded at least one RBI.
The day started out on a promising note for Bentley, which had won three of its previous four. After two-and-a-half scoreless innings, the Falcons struck for four runs in the bottom of the third. Freshman second baseman Tim Denehy (Norwood, MA) had an RBI single, sophomore RF Bill Dacier (Medway, MA) followed with a two-run triple, and freshman catcher Mike O'Connor (Wilbraham, MA) extended his hitting streak to eight with an RBI single.
Denehy was the only Bentley player with more than one hit, finishing 2 for 5, and the Falcons also received a two-run double from junior centerfielder Chris Methe (Longmeadow, MA) in the seventh.
The Jumbos head to Massachusetts Maritime Academic for a make-up game tomorrow at 3:00. Bentley, 5-10, will remain at home to host Brandeis University Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
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