WALSH ONE-HITTER FOILS COLBY'S CBB TITLE HOPES

LEWISTON, Maine -- Bates College sophomore Kevin Walsh (Wakefield, Mass.) enjoyed the finest performance of his career, allowing the Colby College White Mules (18-15) just one hit over nine innings as the Bobcats (9-18) took a 4-1 decision at Leahey Field, denying Colby their first title in the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin season series since 1993.

Colby starter Kris Keelty (Portsmouth, R.I.) was impressive too, allowing just three hits over the first six innings. Keelty faced just one batter over the minimum over that span, thanks to two Colby double plays. Keely also struck out eight Bates hitters while walking none.

Walsh's only mistake led to the Mules' lone run, as sophomore Andy Tripp (Saco, Maine) hit a hanging breaking ball in the third inning for his seventh home run of the season.

The Bobcats got to Keelty in the seventh, but could not score. Junior Jason Coulie (Manchester, N.H.) singled with one out, but was picked off first by Keelty. Junior Ben Bines (Lexington, Mass.) followed with a single. Bines tried to score on a double by sophomore Christian Galligher (Mont Vernon, N.H.), but a perfect relay from leftfielder David Forsyth (Grand Rapids, Mich.) to third baseman Tony Distasi (Chelmsford, Mass.) to catcher Jon Hiltz (Fairfield, Maine) nailed Bines at the plate.

Bates broke through in the bottom of the eighth inning with a pair of two-run home runs. With one out, sophomore Matt Pound (Santa Fe, N.M.) blasted his third home run of the season and his second against Colby, giving Bates a 2-1 lead. Three batters later, senior third baseman Scott McAuliffe (Concord, N.H.) followed suit with his second round-tripper of the year, bringing home junior left fielder Austin Philbin (Clinton, Mass.).

Walsh improves to 3-3 with the win. He is 2-0 with a save in his last four appearances, allowing just 10 hits in 19 innings of work. Keelty drops to 3-4. The Bobcats have won four straight and will try to make it six in a row in coach Bob Flynn's last contests, a doubleheader at noon on Saturday against Eastern Nazarene College.

Bates 4, Colby 1
at Leahey Field

                 1 2 3   4 5 6   7 8 9       R   H   E 
Colby (18-15) 	 0 0 1   0 0 0   0 0 0   -   1   1   0
Bates (9-18)     0 0 0   0 0 0   0 4 X   -   4  10   0  

Pitching
COL - Kris Keelty and Jon Hiltz.
BAT - Kevin Walsh and Ben Donaldson.
W - Walsh (3-3)
L - Keelty (3-4)

Batting
2B - BAT - Christian Galligher, Austin Philbin.
HR - COL - Andy Tripp (7). BAT - Matt Pound (3), Scott McAuliffe (2)
Multiple Hitters - COL - none. BAT - Philbin, McAuliffe.
LOB - COL 2. BAT 2.