CHANDLER, Ariz.-After five games in the Grand Canyon State, the MIT baseball team improved its record to 4-3 and returned home from its spring trip ready to begin NEWMAC-conference play this Saturday at Wheaton College.

The highlight of the spring trip came in a decisive 8-1 victory over nationally-ranked University of Southern Maine. Freshman left-hander Aric Dama pitched 7 innings with 4 hits and 1 run to put the Engineers out front. Dama was followed on the mound by another freshman, Henry Zhu, who secured the victory with 2 shutout innings of relief.

Another outstanding pitching performance by a first-year player highlighted Thursday's 11-4 win over Hamline University. Max Ockner pitched 6-2/3 innings with only 2 runs while Tech's offense used a 6-run outburst in the 4th inning to roll to the win.

The Cardinal and Gray's other victory on the trip came in a 17-10 slugfest over NESCAC rival Middlebury College. After falling behind 10-3 midway through the game, MIT responded with 14 unanswered runs to shock the Panthers.

MIT's 2 losses came at the hands of nationally-ranked Eastern Connecticut  University and NCAA Division-II opponent Colorado State University at Pueblo.

A late rally fell just short in the 8-6 loss to ECSU that kicked-off the trip back on Sunday, March 21. 

The Engineers dug themselves an early hole against CSU Pueblo. Sloppy defensive play led to an early 4-run deficit that the ThunderWolves were able to sustain throughout the contest.

Safely back in Cambridge, the MIT team now turns to conference play beginning with a double-header against Wheaton College on Saturday, March 27. Then, the Engineers wrap-up the month in their next home game on Tuesday, March 30 against Brandeis.