HAMPTON, Va. – A pair of two-run innings, one in the bottom of the ninth and another in the bottom of the 13^th, lifted the MIT baseball team to its first victory of the season as the Engineers took a dramatic, 5-4, win over Tufts University in War Memorial Stadium in Hampton, Virginia. Junior John Drago (Peoria, Ariz.) brought home the winning run against the Jumbos with a squeeze bunt. MIT's second game of the day against the College of St. Joseph was rained out and will be played tomorrow.

Game 1

After Tufts (2-1) had gone up 4-3 in the top of the 13^th on an RBI groundout by John Moschella, a single and a walk and a stolen base put runners on second and third for MIT (1-4) for freshman Jared Schwait (Boca Raton, Fla.) whose grounder to short wound up a run-scoring fielder's choice to tie the game. Drago then executed the squeeze, scoring senior Alec Echevarria (Chula Vista, Calif.) with the game-winner.

After Tufts started the game with single runs in the first on an RBI single by Nicolas Falkson and in the second on fielder's choice by Cody McCallum, it became a pitching dual. Jumbos starter, Andrew David, blanked MIT on four hits over the first eight innings, while sophomore Will Loucks (Las Vegas, Nev.) allowed just the two early runs over 5.2 innings. Senior Michael Wymer (Flower Mound, Texas) followed Loucks with 4.1 innings of work, allowing one run on five hits.

MIT notched its first dramatic two-run inning in the ninth to send the contest to extra innings. With two out and two on, Echevarria drew a walk to load the bases for Schwait who stroked a single to center to tie it up. 

Tufts came right back and took the lead on a one-out RBI single by Christian Zazzali, but MIT responded in its half of the 10^th with a lead-off single by sophomore Garrett Greenwood (Edmond, Okla.) that was followed by an RBI double by sophomore Austin Filiere (Chandler, Ariz.).

Senior Eric Tu (San Ramon, Calif.) tossed a pair of scoreless innings, striking out four, while freshman Zeke Long (Albuquerque, N.M.), who gave up the run in the 13^th, was made the winner by Drago's hit. David went 8.1 innings in his start for the Jumbos, allowing the two runs on five hits while striking out 10.

Game 2

Three hitters into the second game against the College of St. Joseph rain came, postponing the contest until tomorrow at 3:00 p.m.

MIT will conclude its visit tomorrow, starting with a game against host Apprentice School before taking on the College of St. Joseph in the makeup of the rainout at 3:00 p.m.