Tufts Clinches Series Decider Against Rainy Weather on Saturday, 6-1

MEDFORD, MA (March 29, 2025) - The Tufts University baseball team took the series-deciding New England Small College Athletic Conference game versus Bates by a score of 6-1 while battling typical, yet adverse early-spring weather on Saturday afternoon at Sol Gittleman Park.<br /> <br /> Stellar pitching and a productive day at the plate were the recipe for success, as the Jumbos (8-10, 2-1 NESCAC) starting pitcher Connor Podeszwa sat down the first three Bobcats (2-11, 1-2 NESCAC) with a trio of strikeouts. The offense backed up Podeszwa's strong start with a hot inning of their own, as Ben Leonard worked a walk to lead off the bottom of the first. Jesse McCullough also drew a walk, and Cooper Smith wasted no time in advancing both runners with single to right center. Leonard, using his speed and some heads-up baserunning, rounded third to score, giving Tufts the 1-0 lead. James Henshon came up and smacked a fly ball that was caught well behind the infield by the second baseman, allowing McCullough to tag up and score the second run of the inning. The Jumbos were off to a 2-0 lead.<br /> <br /> Podeszwa retired the next trio of Bobcats he faced in order, accumulating two more strikeouts as the windy rain drizzled down around him. Tufts added another pair of runs as Connor Brala homered to deep left field to score Nick Banner. <br /> <br /> The Jumbos' 4-0 lead held as Podeszwa continued to mow down the Bobcats. The senior righty tied his career high of 11 strikeouts as he completed 7.0 innings of shutout baseball. The offense tacked on a run in the sixth inning after AJ Lysko doubled to score Henry Flecker, and a sixth and final run in the seventh after McCullough drove in Leonard with a double down the right field line. <br /> <br /> Rookie reliever Derek Desmarais came into the game in the eighth, inheriting two runners. He pitched out of the jam with an infield fly and a strikeout. The ninth saw David Swift get a hold of one in the windy throes of the game to put Bates on the board, but Desmarais was unfazed as he otherwise faced the minimum to earn Tufts the win.<br /> <br /> The Jumbos take the series to open the NESCAC season, improving to 2-1 in conference play and 8-10 overall. They will return to the diamond after their first week without a weekday game this season, playing in a road series at Amherst College beginning on Friday at 3:30 pm. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />   <div style="text-align: center;">--JUMBOS--</div>