LEWISTON, Maine -- Junior John Tully tossed seven strong innings to earn his fourth straight win and the Bates baseball team scored twice in the sixth and three more times in the seventh to defeat Bard 6-3 in the opener of a three-game series Friday at Leahey Field.

Tully (Framingham, Mass.) allowed just one run on three hits, striking out five along the way. It's the fewest hits and runs allowed by Tully (4-1) in a start this season.

The Bobcats (8-14) found themselves trailing the Raptors (3-22-1) by a score of 1-0 until Bates rallied against Bard starter Kane Morgan (0-4) in the bottom of the sixth.

Sophomore Keagan Ryan (Salem, N.H.) led off the frame by beating out an infield single on a chopper to the second baseman. Two outs later, Ryan stood at third base thanks to a groundout and a wild pitch. First-year David Swift (Yarmouth, Maine) stepped to the plate and delivered a clutch single through the left side, scoring Ryan and tying the game at one. Swift promptly stole second and junior Gibby Sullivan (Yarmouth, Maine) singled in his former high school teammate for a 2-1 Bates lead.

The Bobcats added to their lead in the seventh. Junior Liam Yardley (Keene, N.H.) got hit by a pitch to start the inning. Then Bates played some small ball, with both junior Joe Yoxall (Dallas, Texas) and sophomore Luke Yoon (Honolulu, Hawaii) bunting their way aboard to load the bases. A tough-luck double play off a line drive by Ryan didn't slow the Bobcats down. With runners at the corners and two outs, Yardley scored on a wild pitch. Then junior Jack Margiloff (Rye, N.Y.) singled home Yoon, extending the lead to 4-1. Margiloff advanced to second on the throw home to try to get Yoon. Then he stole third and scored on another wild pitch, making the score 5-1 in favor of the Bobcats.

Bard got a pair of runs back in the eighth. With one out, Mike Lynch singled to center. Kyle Palleschi drew a walk and Xavier Webb doubled down the left field line, scoring both runners. But the Bobcats were able to get Webb out at third base thanks to a strong throw from Margiloff to the cutoff man Sullivan. Sullivan relayed the ball to senior Ben Genser (Newton, Mass.), who put down the tag for the second out of the inning. First-year relief pitcher Charlie Bushley (Cohasset, Mass.) settled down after that, getting a groundout to first to end the inning.

Senior captain Brandon Biggane (Rensselaer, N.Y.) launched a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the eighth to put the Bobcats back up by three. It's Biggane's second home run of the season. 

The Raptors got the lead-off man aboard in the ninth on a Rob DeBello single to right. A fielder's choice and a line drive double play to Genser at third ended the game as Bates won their fourth straight game over Bard.

Bates tallied 12 hits in the contest and held the visitors to just six hits. Every player in the Bates starting lineup reached base at least once in the contest. Ryan, Genser, Sullivan, and Biggane all tallied two hits apiece.

The Bobcats and Bard square off again Saturday, this time in a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for noon at Leahey Field.