MEDFORD, Mass. – Trailing 2-1 in the eighth, Tufts University tied the game in its half of the inning and then received a walk-off single from Tommy O'Hara in the bottom of the ninth that allowed the Jumbos to come away with a 3-2 win over MIT this afternoon at Huskins Field. O'Hara was the only player with two hits in the contest, finishing 2-for-3 for Tufts.

It quickly turned into a pitcher's dual between MIT (20-14) starter, junior David Hesslink (San Diego, Calif.) and the starter for Tufts (27-6), Speros Varinos, with the pair tossing three scoreless innings to start the game. Varinos retired the first nine Engineers before junior John Drago (Peoria, Ariz.) led off the fourth and was hit by a pitch. MIT then manufactured the first run of the game when, with two away, Drago stole second and came around to score on a base hit by senior Alec Echevarria (Chula Vista, Calif.).

Hesslink held the Jumbos off the board until the sixth, when he ran into control problems. A single and a pair of walks loaded the bases with one down for Tufts. Hesslink recorded the second out on a strikeout, but then walked Nicolas Falkson to bring in the tying run.

It stayed tied until the eighth when senior Kendall Helbert (St. Louis, Mo.) led off with a walk. He advanced to second on a passed ball and then to third on a single by sophomore Garrett Greenwood (Edmond, Okla.). Helbert then scampered home on a wild pitch to put the Engineers back on top, 2-1. 

Tufts answered in its half of the inning, however, with the Jumbos loading the bases on a single, a hit batter, and an intentional walk. With two out, Christian Zazzali beat out an infield single into the hole at short, tying the game.

After MIT was retired in order in the ninth, Tufts put runners on first and second on a walk and an error with one down. O'Hara then drove a pitch over the head of the MIT left fielder, scoring Harrison Frickman from second with the winning run. 

R.J. Hall retired all five hitters he faced, striking out three, to pick up the win and improve to 6-0. Senior Michael Wymer (Flower Mound, Texas) took the loss for MIT, giving up the winning run in a third of an inning. Both starters turned in outstanding efforts, with Hesslink tossing six innings of four-hit ball, giving up one run and striking out six. Varinos went seven innings, surrendering three hits and one run while fanning nine.

MIT will conclude its regular season on Thursday, May 12 when it hosts St. Joseph's College (Maine) at 4:00 p.m. at O'Brien Field.