In the first meeting between the schools since '94, Middlebury swept a pair of games from Tufts, 6-5 and 7-3 on Forbes Field. The games were the home-openers for the Panthers, who return to action on Saturday with they host the Jumbos in two more contests beginning at noon.
With the game tied at one in the third, Joe Ramoin doubled and was later singled in by Ryan Armstrong to give Middlebury a 2-1 lead. Nick Curato tied the game for Tufts in the fourth with an RBI single before the Panthers struck for four in the bottom of the inning. Armstrong was hit by a pitch to drive in a run, Gabe Broughton scored on a wild pitch, before a single to right center by John Lanahan drove in a pair. Tufts plated two in the fifth, highlighted by a triple from Chris Decembrele, who was driven in by Kevin Casey. The Jumbos added a run in the fifth and went quietly in the seventh as Middlebury came away with the 6-5 win.
Lanahan went 2-2 with a pair of RBI, Broughton was 2-4 with two runs scored, while Ramoin went 2-3 with a pair of runs scored. Casey and Bryan McDavitt each had a pair of hits for Tufts.
Justin Wright improved to 4-0 on the season, allowing three earned runs and striking out six for the complete game win. Ben Simon suffered the loss for Tufts.
Middlebury scored three insurance runs in the eighth inning of game two as they came away with a 7-3 victory. Trailing 1-0, Lanahan singled in the second before Nick Lefeber's triple to right center plated him in the bottom of the second. The Panthers would add solo runs in the fifth and sixth before Tufts scored a pair in the seventh. Ben Chang scored on a throwing error before McDavitt walked with the bases loaded to make it a 4-3 game.
The Panthers gained some much-needed breathing room with three in the bottom of the eighth. Dom DiDomenico walked, stole second and scored on a single down the right field line by Broughton. Armstrong doubled in Broughton before Lanahan doubled in Armstrong to make it a 7-3 final.
Armstrong went 2-5 with a pair driven in, while Lanahan, Noah Walker and Andrew Pavoni each went 2-4. Brian McDonough went 2-4 with a double to pace Tufts.
Jack Britton earned the win, allowing just one earned run over six innings of work, while striking out seven. Christian Hansen earned a save with three innings of relief. Derek Rice took the loss for the Jumbos, allowing four runs, two earned over five and two-thirds innings.
