Brian Buckley '08

Pete Meisel '07

Ben Shwartz '09

MEDFORD, Mass. -- Sophomore infielder Kevin Casey (Milford, Mass.) went 3 for 4 with four runs batted in, driving home all of the Tufts University baseball team's runs in a 4-2 victory over Bates College at Huskins Field on Friday afternoon. The game was the NESCAC East Division opener for both squads, and the home opener for the Jumbos.

Tufts also got a strong start from junior Adam Telian (Stoughton, Mass.), who struck out 11 Bobcats and allowed an unearned run in six innings. The Jumbos improved to 8-4 overall and Bates fell to 1-6. The teams play a doubleheader at Huskins tomorrow starting at noon.

Both teams scored in the first. Bates lead-off hitter Denis Hogan (Franklin, Mass.) got on by error to start the game, moved to third on singles by Brian Mahoney (Sudbury, Mass.) and Erik Hood (Berlin, N.H.) and scored on a ground-out by catcher Alex Egelson (Fairfield, Conn.). For Tufts, Casey knocked in his older brother Brian Casey (Milford, Mass.) with a double.

Telian struck out five straight Bobcats and six of seven batters overall in the second and third innings. When Bates DH Matt Devin (Bridgewater, Mass.) reached via a walk in the fourth, Telian promptly picked him off.  A two-out triple by Tufts sophomore Dave Katzman (North Andover, Mass.) in the bottom of the fourth was followed by a walk to Brian Casey. Kevin Casey then delivered a two-run double and the Jumbos led 3-1.

Bates put runners on first and third with two outs in the fifth, but Telian struck out Hood (3-for-5). Bobcats were on second and third with one out in the sixth, but Telian again worked out of a jam. He would depart the game with a 4-1 lead after Katzman reached by error in the sixth, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Kevin Casey.

Junior 3B Brian Buckley (Andover, Mass.) led off the Bates eighth with his first home run of the season to cut the Tufts lead to 4-2. The Bobcats then had runners on first and second with one out, but Jumbo reliever Jason Protano (Milford, Mass.) got out of it with a strikeout and a fly ball. Brian Casey came on for the save in the ninth against the top four in the Bates order, which produced eight of their nine hits in the game. Bates left 11 runners on base and out-hit Tufts 9-7.

Bates received a solid start from sophomore righthander Ben Shwartz (Mattapoisett, Mass.), who went six full innings and allowed four runs, three earned, while striking out seven Jumbos. Senior reliever Pete Meisel (Newtown, Conn.) came on for two perfect innings, striking out three.

BOX SCORE: Tufts 4, Bates 2