HARTFORD, Conn. – The Trinity College Baseball team scored 16 straight runs to defeat visiting Tufts University, 19-7, in the opening game of their weekend New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) series at Murren Family Field at DiBenedetto Stadium Friday afternoon. The Bantams improve to 13-13 on the season and 3-4 in conference, while the Jumbos fall to 12-15 overall and 4-3 in the NESCAC.
 
After plating the first run of the day on a Bantams error, the Jumbos extended their lead to 4-0 in the top of the first behind a three-run home run from Owen McKiernan. Tufts added to their advantage in the top of the third on a solo home run from Ben Leonard to set the score at 5-0.
 
The Bantams offense erupted for 16 runs over the next four innings, beginning with a six-run third inning, ignited by back-to-back RBI doubles from Aidan Stern and Aidan Stevenson to trim the gap to 5-3. Following an RBI double from Ryder Aubin, Cole Mascolo launched a two-run home run to centerfield, putting Trinity ahead 6-5 after three innings.
 
Stevenson lifted a sac fly to open the scoring in the fourth inning, followed by a two-run double from Andrew Park and an RBI fielder's choice from Mascolo to pad the lead to 10-5. Stevenson continued to do damage in the fifth inning, blasting a three-run home run to right-center, pushing the Bantams ahead, 13-5.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Trinity tacked on a trio of runs on an RBI single from Dylan Schnitzer, and then a two-run home run from Stevenson to make it a 16-5. The Jumbos knocked in their final runs of the game in the seventh on an RBI double from Ozzie Fleischer and an RBI single from Leonard to narrow the lead to 16-7. Trinity added three more runs in the seventh as Tyler Bernstein blasted a two-run home run to centerfield, followed by an RBI fielder's choice from William Sawyer to seal the 19-7 win.
 
The Bantams racked up 16 hits, their second-most hits in a game this season, with 10 extra-base hits, including five doubles and four home runs. Stevenson paced the Trinity offense, going 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, eight runs batted in and three runs scored. With eight runs batted in, Stevenson matched the program's single-game record, set by Kent Graham against Babson on March 19, 2008. Schnitzer reached base six times with three hits, four runs scored and an RBI, while Aubin  was 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI. Mascolo drove in three runs, while Bernstein and Park knocked in a pair of runs each. Trinity starter Joe Capano (3-4) earned the win in a career-high eight innings of work, allowing three earned runs with six strikeouts.
 
The teams will be back on the diamond for a NESCAC doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Murren Family Field at DiBenedetto Stadium Saturday afternoon. First pitch of the opening game is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.