THE BASICS

-Score: Clark University 6, MIT 5

-Records: Clark (26-12, NEWMAC 12-5), MIT (19-14, NEWMAC 11-6)

-Location: Babson Park, Mass. (Govoni Field)

-The Lead: Sophomore Nick Jordan (Seaford, N.Y.) came through with a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning to help second-seeded Clark University edge fourth-seeded MIT, 6-5, in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament elimination game on Saturday morning at Govoni Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED

-The Cougars set the pace of the game with a four-run bottom of the first inning. Sophomore Dylan Horn (Sterling, Conn.) got things started with a single to centerfield and advanced to second when Kyle Bonicki (Waterbury, Conn.) drew a walk. Senior Teddy Downing (Cambridge, Mass.) loaded the bases when he reached on an error by the Engineers. Horn was the first run to cross home plate when junior Zach Kelley (Hadley, Mass.) walked and Bonicki came home on MIT's second error of the inning as Derek Lefebvre (Groton, Mass.) reached first (2-0). Jordan earned his first RBI of the game when he grounded out to third and Downing came home (unearned) run for the 3-0 lead. After MIT made an early pitching change, freshman Chris Radovic (Fairfield, Conn.) found room through the left side and sent Kelley home for the 4-0 advantage.

-Bonicki posted the lone hit of the second inning for both teams and junior Dan Shaw (Arlington, Mass.)  struck out two batters in the top of the inning.

-The Engineers got on the board in the top of the third. Senior Garret Greenwood (Endmond, Okla.) singled through the left side and moved into scoring position on a single to center field from his classmate David Heller (Fairlawn, N.J.). Sophomore Matt Johnston (Portola Valley, Calif.) earned an RBI when his ground out to third base send Greenwood home (4-1).

-MIT added two more runs in the top of the fourth. Thomas Allison (Kingwood, Texas) led off with a single and Alec Kushner (Cooper City, Fla.) doubled to left field to score him (4-2). With two outs Greenwood laid down a bunt to get Kushner home and MIT trailed by just one (4-3).

-Allison tied the game for MIT when he homered over the right center field fence in the top of the fifth (4-4). The Engineers took over the lead in the top of the seventh with another homerun, this time from Greenwood (5-1).

-Jordan kept the Cougars alive when he doubled down the right field line for two RBIs in the bottom of the eighth. Downing came in to close and got three quick outs on just ten pitches as Clark took the ultimate 6-5 victory to advance to game number 6 in the NEWMAC tournament.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

-Jordan drove in three runs, Bonicki had a pair of hits and both Downing and Kelley scored twice for the Cougars. Shaw earned a no-decision after giving up four runs in six innings. Senior Patrick Robinson (Watertown, Conn.)  gave up one run in two innings of relief to improve to 3-0 with the win, while Downing came on to record his sixth save with a 1-2-3 ninth.

-Greenwood was 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored to lead the Engineers. Allison went 2-for-3 with a homer, a walk and two runs scored, while first year Ethan Rolland (Burke, Va.) finished with a pair of hits in the loss.

UP NEXT

-Clark moves on to game number 6 of the NEWMAC tournament to be played at 3:30 p.m. today at Babson. They will play the loser of game number 5 – No. 1 Babson vs. No. 3 Wheaton.