Baseball Falls to Tufts in NCAA Regional Opener
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mitchell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 1 |
|
#14/15 Tufts | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | X | 14 | 15 | 1 |
MEDFORD, Mass. – The Mitchell College baseball team dropped its opening game of the NCAA Regional Round, falling to host and top-seeded No. 14/15 Tufts University, 14–1, on Friday afternoon at Sol Gittleman Park.
The Mariners (29-13) will look to stave off elimination when they return to action on Saturday, May 16, facing the loser of Friday's other Regional Round game between No. 19/20 Kean University and No. 17/23 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges.
Mitchell struck first in the top of the opening inning on an RBI single up the middle by junior second baseman Christopher Piscione (Cranston, R.I.), which scored senior catcher Nicholas Bracale (East Haven, Conn.), who reached base after being hit by a pitch with one out.
The Jumbos responded immediately with a nine-run bottom of the first inning to seize control of the contest. Tufts collected six hits in the frame, highlighted by an RBI double from Jack Kamin and run-scoring singles by Owen McKiernan, Caden Abraham, and Jesse McCullough.
After three scoreless innings, Mitchell threatened in the top of the fifth, loading the bases against Tufts starter Emmet Christian. However, Christian induced an inning-ending groundout to keep the score at 9–1.
The Jumbos added three more runs in the sixth inning, including a two-run home run by Malcolm Whitfield, before tacking on single runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
Mitchell finished with 10 hits in the contest, led by junior Jayden Sgro (Glastonbury, Conn.), who went 3-for-4 at the plate. Sophomore Ryan Dennis (Ellington, Conn.), junior Michael Ficocelli (North Providence, R.I.), and Piscione each added two hits, while Piscione recorded the Mariners' lone RBI.
On the mound, junior Ethan Chavez (New London, Conn.) provided a strong relief effort, tossing 5.0 innings while allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits and striking out four. Fellow juniors Patrick Mitchell (Garristown, Ireland) and Lucas Nichols (Southbury, Conn.) also appeared in relief.
Tufts totaled 15 hits in the victory, with Jack Kamin leading the way by going 3-for-5 with three RBI and two doubles. Malcolm Whitfield added three RBI, highlighted by a two-run homer, while James Henshon scored three times and drove in a run.
Emmet Christian earned the win for the Jumbos after allowing one run on eight hits across 8.0 innings while striking out four.
