Box Score

LEWISTON, Maine -- Tufts University banged out 17 hits en route to a 12-3 victory at Bates College Friday, in the NESCAC conference opener for both teams.

Tufts junior Bryan McDavitt (Holden, Mass.) went 3-for-4 at the plate, drove in two runs and scored two runs, in addition to three stolen bases. Senior Greg Chertok (New City, N.Y.) and junior Chris Decembrele (Walpole, Mass.) also had three hits apiece.

Junior righthander Ben Simon (Providence, R.I.) earned the win for the Jumbos (8-4), going 6 2/3 innings and allowing three runs, two earned.

Bates sophomore Alex Maulucci (Avon, Conn.) had three hits for Bates (4-4), including a leadoff double in the Bobcats' three-run seventh inning. Sophomore Brian Mahoney (Sudbury, Mass.) hit a two-run double in the inning.

Bates had 12 hits in the game, with sophomore Brian Buckley (Andover, Mass.), first-year Dave Farrell (Chatham, Mass.) and sophomore Alex Egelson (Fairfield, Conn.) all collecting two.

Bates sophomore righthander Sean VanderVliet (Meriden, N.H.) earned the loss, lasting 4 2/3 innings and allowing six runs, five earned, on seven hits.

The Jumbos, ranked No. 22 in the latest ABCA Division III poll, broke the game wide open in their five-run sixth inning, with their first five batters reaching base safely en route to extending their lead from 6-0 to 11-0.

The teams play a doubleheader Saturday at Bates, starting at noon.