Despite a rough start to the weekend, the baseball team displayed the strength of both its lineup and pitching staff in three games against Bates, winning two of three over its NESCAC East rival.
After suffering a tough 8-6 loss on Saturday, the team bounced back and dominated the Bobcats in a Sunday doubleheader. The Jumbos routed Bates 26-3 in the first contest before delivering a 9-3 victory in the second. Overall, Tufts outscored Bates 41-14 this weekend to open its divisional slate 2-1.
While the Jumbos' 26 runs to open Sunday were the most Tufts has scored since beating Randolph-Macon 28-5 on March 16, 2003, the offense appeared a bit sluggish at the start of the evening contest.
The game remained scoreless heading into the third inning, when the Jumbos exploded for six runs in the third, more than they would need to eventually win the game. With men on second and third, junior co-captain Kevin Casey singled home the first run of the game.
After a walk to senior first baseman Steve Ragonese, sophomore designated hitter Corey Pontes ripped a two-run double to center. Junior outfielder Eric Catalanotti followed that with a two-run double of his own, bringing the score to 5-0. The Jumbos touched home for the final time in the inning when freshman second baseman David Leresche hit a single to score Catalanotti.
Bates would make a move in the fifth, however, the only inning that Jumbo freshman pitcher Pat O'Donnell struggled with his control. With one out and the bases loaded, the Bobcats scored on a fielder's choice to first.
O'Donnell followed that at-bat with a wild pitch, allowing Bates to score again. A follow-up double would bring home another run and make the game more
seemingly more competitive at 6-3. That, however, would be Bates' final run.
"Early on, my control wasn't great," O'Donnell said. "I'd throw three strikes, then throw three balls. Later on, I settled down and got into a groove. It was pretty much good from there."
O'Donnell pitched eight strong innings, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out four and bringing his ERA down to 1.40, the lowest in the Jumbo rotation. He earned the complete game and his second win in a Tufts uniform.
"That's what's most important: helping the team out," O'Donnell said. "When Coach gives you an opportunity, you have to take advantage. I just try to go out and do the best I can."
The Tufts bats struck again in the top of the sixth when sophomore catcher Alex Perry led off the inning with a long double to left center. After tagging to third on junior outfielder Dave Katzman's flyout, Perry was brought home by an RBI single from freshman outfielder Ian Goldberg.
After Casey singled and Ragonese walked to load the bases, Pontes notched his third RBI of the day on a single to second base. Freshman outfielder Chase Rose drew a walk after Pontes to force in another run, bringing the score to 9-3, which would be the final.
"We played like we were supposed to," coach John Casey said. "We didn't play that well on Saturday. We got two good pitching performances from [senior Jason] Protano and O'Donnell, which was a big part of it. We made some plays. It was important to get on them early. Goldberg, after going something like 0-for-6 on Saturday, led off the first game with a hit and set the tone."
That hit did indeed set the tone for the first game, as Tufts followed Goldberg's with three more hits and four runs in the inning. By the end of the third, the score was 8-1 Tufts.
"It feels great [being able to contribute]," Goldberg said. "I came in here just hoping to help. Batting leadoff is a bonus, and hopefully I can continue to perform and produce."
In the fourth, the Jumbos' offense went off, racking up nine hits and eight runs. Both Perry and Pontes posted two RBI singles in the inning.
With the score 17-3 heading into the seventh, the Jumbos offense poured it on again in the final frame. This time, however, it was largely due to the control problems of Bates pitcher Noah Burke. Burke hit the first two batters on the inning, then walked sophomore infielder Caleb Sims to load the bases.
Katzman singled home a run, while junior third baseman Ari David reached on an error two batters later. After two more walks, Burke was replaced by Ryan Horvath, who did not fare much better. He walked the first batter he faced, Goldberg, to bring in another run - and then gave up a grand slam to Ragonese, his fourth home run of the season. Tufts plated nine runs in the inning to finish off the 26-3 final.
"It felt pretty great," Goldberg said. "We played like crap [on Saturday] so today was good. Any time you score 26 runs is good."
Ragonese was 5 for 5 in the first game with seven RBI. His batting average for the season sits at an eye-popping .508. Protano pitched six innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits while striking out six.
After the postponement of their game yesterday at Mass Maritime, the Jumbos look ahead to their next home contest against Albertus Magnus on Friday. They also take the field the following day for a road doubleheader against Williams, their only NESCAC West competition of the regular season.
"Williams beat us last year in the championship game, so we know what they can do," John Casey said.
