After giving up six runs in three?plus innings on March 23 against Christopher Newport, senior Kevin Gilchrist saw his ERA balloon to 7.71. Just like that, one of the Jumbos' aces from last year had seemingly disappeared from the starting rotation.
After more than three weeks in the bullpen, he's finally back.
Yesterday, Gilchrist threw a no?hitter in the first game of a doubleheader against UMass Dartmouth, walking two and fanning four in a seven?inning contest to achieve Tufts baseball's first such gem since 2003.
Before yesterday, the left?hander had not pitched more than three innings in a game since that March 23 loss, and he did not start any of the Jumbos' three games against the Colby Mules this past weekend.
Buoyed by Gilchrist's effort, the Jumbos won 4?0 and went on to earn the doubleheader sweep by taking the second game 9?1. They received another stellar pitching effort in game two, as sophomore Christian Sbily allowed just one run on three hits in six innings of work before freshman Willie Archibald shut the door in the seventh.
The wins were much?needed for the Jumbos, who entered Monday's action on the heels of a disappointing series loss to the Mules. The Jumbos took control of the conference series on Friday, downing the Mules 14?4, but the visitors came back with a vengeance the next day, winning both games of a doubleheader by scores of 5?2 and 10?4.
Tufts is now 15?8 overall but just 4?5 in conference play, which puts the team third in the NESCAC East behind 8?1 Trinity and 3?3 Bowdoin. Tufts' only remaining NESCAC East series is against Bowdoin on April 27?28; the Polar Bears will play three against the Mules this coming weekend before hosting the Jumbos.
For complete coverage of Gilchrist's no?hitter and the Jumbos' tumultuous five?game weekend, see tomorrow's Daily.
