TUFTS, NEWSOM STIFLE METHODIST, 2-1
COLLEGE BASEBALL FINAL SCORE
Tufts 2 Methodist 1
At Fayetteville, NC
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Senior co-captain Randy Newsom (Cincinnati, OH) carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning with one out to lead the Tufts Baseball team to a sweet 2-1 victory at Methodist on Tuesday afternoon. Tufts (2-2), playing in the fourth game of its spring trip, was able to knock Methodist down to 14-9.
After striking out the first batter of the ninth, Newsom surrendered consecutive singles to junior 1B Allen Kent and senior 2B Kevin Wallace. After losing the no-hitter, he had to focus on not losing the game. With the scored tied 1-1, the two hits put runners on first and second and one out. Newsom picked off pinch runner Matt Hunt at second base and then finished with flash by striking out DH Matt Mergo looking. Newsom (1-0) allowed just the two hits, three walks and hit a batter while striking out six in his complete game victory. Tufts had just six hits in the game, but with Newsom dominating it would be just enough.
Methodist had scored its lone run in the bottom of the first on a walk, two ground outs and a wild pitch. Tufts tied the game at 1-1 on its next at bat in the second. Singles by a trio of freshmen - CF Chris Decembrele (Walpole, MA), DH Bryan McDavitt (Holden, MA) and a run-scoring base hit by LF Brian Casey (Milford, MA) - made it happen. Casey is the oldest son of Tufts head coach John Casey.
After stranding Methodist runners at second and third in the third inning, Newsom retired 10 in a row as he rolled through the middle of the game. Methodist also got good pitching from Casey Varnell and Ryan Brandt, who both went for innings. The game went to the eight tied 1-1. Tufts sophomore RF Matt Clement (Norwood, MA) had the go-ahead RBI single in the eighth, scoring senior co-captain Adam Kacamburas (North Reading, MA) from second with two outs. Kacamburas had reached on an error, stole second and then scored on Clement's single that bounced off the pitcher's mound into the outfield.
The Jumbos are up and at 'em early tomorrow as they play Greensboro College in an 11:00 start
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