WALTHAM, MA – A year ago, Tufts ended the Ephs season in Williamstown in heartbreaking fashion, scoring eight runs in the sixth inning to come from behind for the victory. Today, Williams came just short of avenging that loss, falling 14-12 at Tufts. Inclement weather, which forced yesterday's baseball games to be halted in progress, led NESCAC officials to shorten the double-elimination tournament effectively turning the game into the championship. Trailing 8-2 when play was postponed in the fifth inning yesterday, the Ephs rallied to score ten runs in their final four innings but couldn’t pull out the win.
Senior ace Paul Burgdorf (Latham, NY) started on the mound for the Ephs. He matched Tufts starter Derek Miller (Whitman, MA) through the first three innings as the teams entered the fourth tied at 1. Tufts broke the game open in the fourth, however, scoring four runs, three of them coming with two outs. The Ephs had a chance to escape the inning after third baseman Taylor Mondshein ’13 (Larchmont, NY) turned an unassisted double play, but an error kept the inning alive. The real damage came when first baseman Matt Collins (Hopkinton, MA) hit a two-run single up the middle. Collins was the last batter Burgdorf would face as he was replaced by freshman Lucas Casso (Los Angeles, CA). Casso was able to record a strikeout with runners on first and second to escape the inning, but Tufts continued to attack in the fifth.
Burgdorf allowed five runs, only two of them earned, on seven hits, two walks, and four hit batters over three and two thirds innings of work.
After the Ephs went down in order in the top of the fifth, Tufts increased their lead in the bottom half of the inning. With one on and one out, shortstop Frank Petroskey (Dallas, TX) hit a run-scoring triple. A hit batter, a balk, and a double by Sam Sager (Cranston, RI) increased the Tufts lead to 8-2.
The game was postponed midway through the bottom of the fifth and forced to resume until today due to rain. The NESCAC was forced to institute the rain policy whereby the loser of the game would be eliminated from the tournament. Facing a six-run deficit and elimination, Williams battled on.
Designated hitter Robin Allemand ’10 (Ft Lauderdale, FL) led off the inning with a single. After a ground out, the Ephs rattled off three singles in a row to bring to runs home and cut the lead to 8-4. Shortstop Cameron Susk ’12 (Woodside, CA), first baseman Andrew Bishop ’13 (Westwood, MA), and Mondshein each had hits in the inning
Tufts responded with a huge inning, scoring five runs on seven hits. Four of the runs came with two outs as Tufts increased their lead to nine runs. Sophomore pitcher Eddie Nadel ’12 (San Mateo, CA) was able to escape without further damage, however, when he induced a groundout to get out of a bases-loaded jam.
With only nine outs remaining and their dreams of a NESCAC title fading, Williams rallied for a huge seventh inning to battle back into the game. Left fielder Al Mathews ‘10 (North Hampton, NH), who ended his season batting over .500, led off with a double to right field. Right fielder Pat Barren ’11 (Worthington, OH) followed that with a double to left center to score Mathews. After a pair of outs, Susk walked to keep the inning alive. Bishop then reached on an error to load the bases for Mondshein who singled to right field to score Susk and Barren. Three straight walks to center fielder Stephen Maier ’12 (Orange, CT), second baseman James Allison ’11 (Amherst, MA), and Mathews brought two more runs across. Barren then singled to right center to score two more and cut the lead to 13-11.
Freshman Jimmy Ray (Glen Gardner, NJ) pitched the final two innings for the Ephs. After a perfect eighth inning, he allowed one run on a double by Chase Rose (Scottsdale, AZ). Trailing by three heading into the top of the eighth, the Ephs quickly cut the lead to two when Maier led off with his second home run in as many games. Mathews followed him with a double to center to bring Barren to the plate as the tying run. The Ephs were unable to continue the rally, however, as Tufts ace Chris DeGoti (Miami, FL) picked up his 11th save of the season.
Head Coach Bill Barrale was pleased with the way his team responded to adversity: “We were down big coming into today but the guys were really focused and fired up. It was a great game and we put ourselves in a position to win. Baseball’s a tough game like that and sometimes it doesn’t go your way but we fought hard until the end.” Barrale also noted the talent level of Tufts: “They’ve been the top-ranked team in the region most of the year. They put their ace out there in the ninth and had nobody in the bullpen. It was his game to win or lose and we just came up a little bit short.”
Tufts also started their top pitcher, Derek Miller (Whitman, MA) who picked up his fourth victory, allowing two earned runs on seven hits while striking out six in five innings.
Offensively, the Ephs were led by Mondshein and Mathews who had four hits a piece and 4 and 1 RBI respectively. Bishop also had three hits while Barren, Allemand, and Allison each had two.
The Ephs advance to play Bowdoin in the loser’s bracket final but are eliminated from championship contention.
