Mahoney 140 career hits

Hood 3 for 6

MEDFORD, Mass. -- Tufts University defeated Bates College in a NESCAC East Division baseball double-header at Huskins Field on Sunday afternoon. The Jumbos won the first game, scheduled for seven innings, 26-3. Game two was called after eight innings due to darkness with Tufts winning 9-3.

Bates senior SS Brian Mahoney (Sudbury, Mass.) went 4-for-7 on the day, raising his career hits total to 140, a day after breaking Nate Maxwell '04's former Bates record of 135.

After losing the series opener on Friday to Bates, the Jumbos took two out of three for the weekend with relentless offense and solid pitching on Sunday. They improved to 8-6 overall and 2-1 in the league. Bates dropped to 4-6 and 1-2.

Tufts senior 1B Steve Ragonese (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) went 5 for 5 with seven RBIs, including a grand slam, and four runs scored in game one's rout. Other big offensive numbers came from junior SS Kevin Casey (Milford, Mass.) at 3 for 4 with four runs and 2 RBI, and from sophomore C Alex Perry (Danvers, Mass.) at 3 for 5 with four RBI and three runs scored. The Jumbos, who finished with 23 hits, scored eight runs in the fourth and nine in the seventh.

Senior pitcher Jason Protano (Milford, Mass.) had a solid outing as the beneficiary, going six innings and allowing seven hits and two earned runs.

Bates senior SS Brian Mahoney (Sudbury, Mass.) was 3 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI, while senior 1B Erik Hood (Berlin, N.H.) finished 2 for 2 with an RBI. Five Bates pitchers walked a total of 10 batters and hit three others.

Game two was more competitive, but the Jumbos scored six times in the third inning to take command. Sophomore 1B Corey Pontes (Milton, Mass.) hit a two-run double and junior RF Eric Catalanotti (Grafton, Mass.) doubled home a run, stole a base and scored in the inning. Tufts freshman starter Pat O'Donnell (Worcester, Mass.) pitched all eight innings for a complete game, allowing five hits. He improved to 2-0.

Bates cut the Jumbo lead in half to 6-3 in the fifth. Senior LF Brian Buckley (Andover, Mass.) had an RBI double. Tufts regained a six-run lead with three in the sixth, with freshman LF Ian Goldberg (Lake Forest, Ill.) knocking in a run with a single and scoring in the inning.

Pontes had three RBI in the second game and Perry finished 2 for 4 and scored two runs.

Bates played as the home team in both games whereas the weekend series was scheduled for Lewiston, Maine, but had to be moved due to snow on Leahey Field.

SCHEDULE NOTE: Bates' game at Husson College scheduled for Tuesday, April 1, has been postponed to be played on Sunday, April 27 at 12 p.m. Meanwhile, Bates' game against UMaine-Farmington that had been rescheduled to April 28 has been shuffled again. The game will now be played at Husson College on Thursday, April 3 starting at 3 p.m.

The Bobcats are then scheduled to play a three-game series at NESCAC East opponent Trinity College, starting with a nine-inning game Friday at 3 p.m.

BOX SCORE: Tufts 26, Bates 3 (Game 1)

BOX SCORE: Tufts 9, Bates 3 (Game 2)