Baseball drops league game at Tufts

MEDFORD --- Nik Atsalis and Taro Gold both had two hits for the Colby College baseball team in a 14-4 setback at Tufts University in a NESCAC East Division game Friday at Huskins Field.
 
Atsalis had two runs to go along with his two hits, while Gold drove in two runs with a double. Mike Mastrocola and Luke Duncklee both had one hit and one run for the Mules (9-12 overall, 0-4 NESCAC East).
 
Tufts pitcher Dave Ryan struck out 13 Colby batters in seven innings, while the Jumbo offense had 11 hits and took advantage of eight errors by the Mules.

The game's first eight runs were all unearned as both teams committed errors. Colby led 1-0 after Atsalis singled and eventually scored when a wild pitch on a strikeout was thrown away at first base. The Jumbos would score one in the first and six in the second with the help of four Mules errors. Collins had a two-run double in the second, while both Hauser and Nate Izzo added RBI singles.

Ryan had six strikeouts through three innings before Colby strung together three hits to open the fourth. Mike Mastrocola led off with a single, Luke Duncklee doubled and both scored on Gold's double to right. However, Ryan prevented further damage by recording two more strikeouts and the Jumbos led 7-3.

Hauser's two-run single highlighted a four-run fifth inning that put Tufts up 11-3. McDavitt drove in a run with a ground ball and also scored in the inning. A lead-off triple by Tom Howard led to three more Jumbo runs in the sixth and a 14-3 advantage.

The teams play a doubleheader Saturday starting at noon.