Bates (5-5) had 11 hits and four errors, while Amherst (7-6) had 12 hits on the afternoon and commited four errors.

With the score knotted at nine, Amherst pinch hitter Anthony Spina reached on an error, stole second, and advanced to third on a fielder's choice. Spina came home on a single up the middle from Andrew Vandini, scoring what would prove to be the game winning run off of Bates reliever Rob DiFranco (Melrose, Mass.).

The Bobcats put the tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the ninth, as sophomore Ryan McCarthy (Plaistow, N.H.) drew a walk off of Amherst closer Jackson Volle and moved to second on a fielder's choice. But Volle was able to strikeout junior Evan Czopek (Portland, Ore.) for the save.

Amherst scored in the top half of the first with a single from leadoff hitter Harry Roberson and a walk from Valdini off of Bates starter Chris Ward (Pasadena, Calif.). Following a double steal, Yanni Thanopoulis lifted a sacrifice fly to right to put the Lord Jeffs up 1-0.

Amherst added two runs in the third on a pair of home runs. Roberson started the frame with a shot to left field, and two batters later, Mike Odenwaelder hit the first of his two opposite field shots in the game.

The Jeffs threatened to add to the 3-0 lead in the top of the third, loading the bases with two outs on a pair of errors and a walk, but Ward induced an inning ending ground ball from Odenwaelder to end the threat and keep the Bobcats within striking distance.

The momentum shift was palpable coming in to the dugout, and Bates errupted for five runs in the bottom of the third, getting started with a one-out double to center field off the bat of Brendan Fox (West Hartford, Conn.), that scored Czopek, who led off the inning with a single. Eric Vilanova knocked a ground ball up the middle that scored John Dinucci (West Hartford, Conn.) who had also reached on a single to make it a 3-2 game.

Conor Reenstierna (Lincoln, Mass.) evened the score with a perfectly placed suicide squeeze up the first base line that left Amherst starting pitcher Riley Streit with no play. Two batters later Nate Pajka (Douglass, Mass.) hit a fielder's choice to the shortstop, but two more runs came home when the throw sailed out of play, giving Bates the 5-3 lead after four innings.

The Jeffs put up a five-spot in the top of the sixth to regain the lead, highlighted by a two-run single from Connor Gunn that scored Thanopoulos and Odenwalter and put Amherst on top, 8-5. Bates got two runs back on the bottom of the seventh, scoring one run on a Vilanova single to right that brought home Dinucci, and another when Mekae Hyde (Lewiston, Maine) drew a bases loaded walk to bring home Fox.

The Jeffs added a single tally in the eighth on Odenwaelder's second opposite field home run. The Bobcats tied things up in the bottom of the eighth. Pajka started the frame with a double off the left center field wall, and with two outs, Sam Berry (South Hamilton, Mass.) reached on an error that allowed Pajka to score. Berry swiped second and tied the game on a single from Fox.

Brendan Fox and Eric Vilanova both had multi-hit games, with Fox going 2-4 with a pair of RBI's and two runs scored. Vilanova was 2-5 with one run scored and two RBI's. Every other player in the lineup had one hit each for Bates. Mekae Hyde and Conor Reenstierna each also had an RBI for the Bobcats.

Chris Ward started the game on the hill for Bates scattering five hits and three earned runs while striking out four in four innings. Mark Cunningham (Canton, Mass.), Robert Jones (South Berwick, Maine), and Matt Doyle (Northboro, Mass.) each had a scoreless appearance on the mound for Bates.

Amherst was led by Roberson, who was 3-5 with three runs scored and an RBI. Vandini, Odenwaelder, and Thanopoulos each had two hits and two RBI's for the Jeffs. Keenan Szulik picked up the win for Amherst and Jackson Volle got the save.

Bates is scheduled to return to action on April 4 at home against Bowdoin College with a 3:00 p.m. start.