Nine outs away from securing a non-conference win over in-state rival Brandeis on Tuesday, the baseball team fell apart, surrendering seven runs in the seventh inning and falling to the Judges 9-2.
For a Tufts team that has played well this season, compiling a 13-5 record going into Tuesday's game, the loss is a bump in the road before an important league series against Bowdoin this weekend.
Senior pitcher Carlos Lopez held Brandeis at bay for the first six innings, taking a 2-1 lead into the seventh.
But a leadoff single by Brandeis freshman designated hitter Ryan Healey opened the flood gates. Senior infielder Shane Butland, pinch running for Healey, stole second and advanced to third on a balk. Lopez then came through with a strikeout of freshman catcher Artie Posch before yielding a game-tying double to freshman third baseman James Likis. After a 10-pitch battle with Lopez, senior second baseman Jeff Bourdon singled in the go-ahead run.
A bunt and a triple plated two more runs for the Judges, chasing Lopez out of the game in favor of freshman reliever David Gibbs.
But the Brandeis assault was relentless, adding three more runs before Gibbs struck out Posch and got Likis to ground out to third.
In all, the Judges sent 12 men to the plate.
"We weren't able to put together a complete game," senior tri-captain Brian Casey said. "We didn't execute on the opportunities that we needed to win the game. They hung around and had the one big inning that won the game for them."
The scoring for the Jumbos came via runs in the fourth and fifth.
Senior tri-captain Bryan McDavitt and junior right fielder Steve Ragonese smacked back-to-back doubles to tie the game at one in the fourth.
Ragonese collected another RBI in the fifth when he walked with the bases loaded, driving in sophomore center fielder Dave Katzman. The Jumbos were held scoreless for the rest of the game, however, as Brandeis got strong performances from four different pitchers.
Tufts will have little time to brew over its loss, as it prepares for its one-two showdown with divisional rival Bowdoin this weekend; the Polar Bears sit in second place in the NESCAC East, behind the first-place Jumbos - a match-up that will certainly draw the attention of the rest of the league and require the Jumbos to be on top of their game.
"We need to make sure that we're taking advantage of the opportunities that present themselves," senior tri-captain Ben Simon said. "We need to make the plays that are in front of us and take care of the simple things."
Bowdoin was the best team in the NESCAC during the regular season last year, edging the Jumbos out by just a game.
Tufts lost all three of its regular season match-ups with the Polar Bears last season, which accounted for its only league losses of the year. Bowdoin currently stands at 4-1 in league play and 9-7 overall. The series is crucial for both teams.
"They are going to come in ready to try and beat us at home and we have to be ready to respond to anything they throw at us," Casey said. "We're looking forward to the test, put our best out there and see what happens."
A few wins this weekend will set the Jumbos up nicely for the stretch run before the NESCAC tournament kicks off in May.
There is no illusion as to the importance of bringing their best baseball to every game.
"Good teams aren't going to let you get away with mistakes," Simon said. "We have to play our best baseball right now."
