SCHONBERGER SLUGS AMHERST PAST TUFTS IN OPENING ROUND OF NESCACs
COLLEGE BASEBALL FINAL SCORE
NESCAC Tournament
Amherst 5 Tufts 3
AMHERST – Junior shortstop Zach Schonberger (Rye, NY) pounded a three-run homer in the third inning, while junior starter Joe Vladeck (Washington, DC) and rookie reliever Chris Edgar (Massapequa, NY) pitched out of trouble on several occasions to lead the host Amherst College baseball team to a 5-3 win over Tufts University in Day 1 of the double-elimination NESCAC Post-season Championship Tournament on Friday. Fifth-ranked Trinity College joined Amherst in the winners' bracket with a 3-0 win over Wesleyan University in Friday's other first-round game, played at nearby Western New England College (WNEC).
On Saturday, Amherst (21-6-1) will host Trinity (29-5) in the winners' bracket, while Wesleyan (11-23-1) faces Tufts (23-10) in an elimination game at Western New England College. Both matchups are set for 10:30 a.m.
Schonberger's team-leading seventh home run of the season (and 15th of his career) capped a four-run Amherst rally in the third after junior Andrew Green (Lexington, MA) singled, stole second and scored on a base hit by classmate Dave Levinson (Philadelphia, PA). The Jeffs then added an insurance tally for a 5-0 cushion in the sixth when Schonberger reached with a leadoff single and trotted home on a sac fly by senior Josh Santry (Allendale, NJ).
Meanwhile, Vladeck cruised through the first six innings before finally surrendering a two-run single to Tufts junior RF Jim O'Leary (North Easton, MA) in the seventh. Edgar came on and ended the threat with an infield fly and a rally-killing 4-6-3 double play. Tufts managed another run in the ninth, courtesy of sophomore Kyle Backstrom's (Worcester, MA) RBI single, and the Jumbos brought the tying run to the plate with two outs, but Edgar squelched the threat with his only strikeout, picking up his second save of the season, while Vladeck improved to 6-1 with the win. Green, Levinson, Schonberger and sophomore Jared Banner (Brooklyn, NY) each went 2 for 4 for Amherst.
Tufts sophomores Chris Decembrele (Walpole, MA) and Bryan McDavitt (Holden, MA) doubled in defeat. The Jumbos used three pitchers in the loss. Sophomore Ben Simon (Providence, RI) drew the start and surrendered four runs (three unearned) en route to his first loss of the year.
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