In addition to the softball and men's tennis squads, two other Tufts teams were in action in Medford yesterday - the baseball team, which emerged victorious, 17-7, and the men's lacrosse squad, which fell short of its seventh win, losing 9-7.
The baseball team took on the Mass Maritime Buccaneers in the afternoon, coming back from an early five-run deficit to extend its winning streak to eight games. The win improved the Jumbos' overall record to 11-4.
Senior Carlos Lopez started the game on the mound for the Jumbos, but was chased out of the game early, as the Buccaneers came out swinging in the first inning, tagging him for five runs before he was pulled by coach John Casey.
Three freshmen - David Gibbs, Jordan Goldberg and Thomas Hill -pitched the remainder of the game for the Jumbos, and the trio put out the fire nicely for the Jumbos, allowing just two runs in the remaining eight and a third innings. Tufts pulled away with 10 runs in the second inning, and tacked on two more later on to finish out the 17-7 win.
Later, the men's lacrosse team took on Western New England in the nightcap. The game featured two of the nation's top lacrosse teams meeting under the lights of Bello Field, as both teams entered the game undefeated and nationally ranked, with the Jumbos at No. 5 and Western New England at No. 8.
In a hard-hitting contest that suited the cold, drizzly weather, the Golden Bears scratched out a tough win. Senior attack Adam Cherry scored four goals for the visitors, who pushed their record to 8-0 on the season. The Jumbos fell to 6-1 with the loss.
Neither team led by more than a goal until Western New England took an 8-6 advantage on a fast-break goal with nine minutes to play. The Bears picked up another goal at the seven-minute mark, and Tufts clawed back to within two with a goal off a ricochet with 2:25 left.
The Golden Bears withstood the Jumbos' last-ditch offensive efforts to hold on, ensuring the win.
See Thursday's Daily for further coverage.
-by Evans Clinchy and Matt Mertens
