Teams: Baseball: Schedule & Results

COLLEGE BASEBALL FINAL SCORE
NESCAC Tournament
Tufts 15, Wesleyan 10

At Pittsfield, MA
Saturday, May 9, 2009

Game Box Score

Kevin Casey had key hits in the middle of two big innings for Tufts

WILLIAMSTOWN -- In the possible final game of the 2009 season for both teams, Tufts University (18-18) used ten runs in the sixth and seventh innings to defeat Wesleyan University Saturday morning. The game, a 15-10 marathon, saw a combined 25 runs and 35 hits from both teams.

Wesleyan got on the board first as first-year Alex Meadow hit a sacrifice fly off of first-year pitcher Chris DeGoti (Miami, FL), the Tufts starter. The Jumbos, however, would answer with runs in the second and third on RBI singles by juniors Corey Pontes (Lynnfield, MA) and Nate Bankoff (Lynnfield, MA) to take a 2-1 lead.

After Wesleyan tied it in the fourth on a bases-loaded walk by senior starting pitcher Drew Dominguez, the Jumbos exploded for three runs and four hits all with two outs to take a 5-2 lead after four. Sophomore shortstop David LeResche (St. Louis, MO) hit a two-run triple and scored on a single by Bankoff.

It was 5-3 when the two teams combined to have one of the most exciting innings in NESCAC baseball history. Cardinal junior Brice Kelly doubled home two runs when the ball got past Tufts sophomore CF Ian Goldberg (Lake Forest, IL) on a diving attempt, and then senior Garrett Lamborn chased DeGotti with a towering two-run homer to left to give the Cardinals an 8-5 lead.

In the bottom half of the sixth, Dominguez would get the first two outs quickly, but could not achieve that elusive third one. In a span of ten batters, the Jumbos would record four hits and be walked or hit by a pitch five times to score six runs. A two-run double by senior 3B Kevin Casey (Milford, MA) was the biggest blow.

After a scoreless seventh for the Cardinals, the Jumbos put the game away with four more in the bottom half of the inning to take a 15-8 lead. Another Casey double brought in a  run and freshman 2B Sam Sager (Cranston, RI) hit a two-run single.

Wesleyan would rally for two runs in the final two innings, but Tufts sophomore pitcher Pat O'Donnell (Worcester, MA) stranded a bases loaded situation for Wes in the ninth to end the game.

The top hitters for the Jumbos were Bankoff (4 for 6, 2 runs, 2 RBI), Casey (3 for 5, 2 runs, 3 RBI), sophomore LF Chase Rose (Scottsdale, AZ), who was 2 for 6 with two runs and an RBI and Sager (4 for 5, 2 runs, 3 RBI). Sophomore Ed Bernstein (Foxborough, MA) pitched 2 1/3 innings in relief to pick up the win.

For Wesleyan, they ended their season with performances by Lamborn (2 for 3, 1 run, 2 RBI), Kelly (3 for 4, 1 run, 4 RBI) and sophomore Julian Sonnenfeld (3 for 6, 3 runs).

Tufts now moves on to face Williams College in an elimination Game 5 later today in Williamstown.

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