NESCAC CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

NASHUA, N.H. – The Amherst College baseball team took a three-run lead in the eighth, and Riley Streit '17 retired the sides in the final two innings as the Jeffs claimed a 5-2 win over Tufts University Friday night in day one of the 2015 NESCAC Baseball Championships at Holman Stadium in Nashua, N.H.

The Jeffs (24-11), who earned the No. 2 seed in the West Division, will play top-seeded Wesleyan University (26-8) tomorrow at 2 p.m. The Jumbos (26-9), seeded No. 1 in the East Division, face elimination tomorrow when they play Bates College (16-19) at 10 a.m. Last year, Tufts defeated Amherst in day one action, 9-5.

The Purple & White totaled seven hits in Friday night's game and were led by Mike Odenwaelder '16 and Anthony Spina '17 with two hits each. Odenwaelder finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and Spina went 2-for-4 with a two-RBI triple. Andrew Vandini '16, Sam Ellinwood '18 and Harry Roberson '18 all added a hit for the Jeffs. Keenan Szulik '17 started on the mound and earned the win (5-3). He pitched 6.0 innings and allowed two runs on three hits with four strikeouts. He was relieved by Streit in the sixth as the sophomore picked up his first save as he allowed just one hit in 3.0 innings and struck out three.

Cody McCallum hit two of the Jumbos' four hits. He finished 2-for-4 with a RBI, while Matt Moser went 1-for-4 with a RBI, and Oscar Kutch went 1-for-2 with a triple and a run scored. Tim Superko started and tossed 4.0 innings. He allowed two runs on three hits and struck out four, while Tom Ryan went 5.0 innings and surrendered three runs (two earned) on four hits with three strikeouts.

With two outs and the bases empty in the top of the first, Odenwaelder tripled to left field to get in scoring position. He then crossed home during the next at-bat on a wild pitch to give the Jeffs the early 1-0 advantage.

After two scoreless innings, Amherst increased its lead to two as Odenwaelder hit a lead-off single through the right side. After stealing second and advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt by Yanni Thanopoulos '17, a fly ball to center field by Conner Gunn '16 brought home the junior slugger. However, the Jumbos retaliated in the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run by Moser to cut the deficit to one.

Both teams exchanged runs again in the sixth inning. Roberson hit an infield single to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Vandini. Two batters later, a throwing error by the Jumbos brought Roberson from second all the way home to go ahead, 3-1.

After consecutive walks in the bottom half of the inning, followed by back-to-back outs, a single by McCallum to left field brought Kutch in from second base to bring the margin to one yet again.

The Jeffs then put the game out of reach in the eighth inning. Vandini led-off with an infield single and a wild pitch advanced the junior to second. After a deep fly ball allowed Vandini to reach third base, Thanopoulos walked to put runners at first and third. The next batter hit an infield groundout to advance Thanopoulos, before Spina tripled to right field to clear the bases.

Streit retired the sides in both the eighth and ninth innings to eliminate any possible comeback attempt by the Jeffs' NESCAC East Division opponent.