Medford, Mass. - The Colby Baseball Team faced the Jumbos of Tufts University on Friday afternoon in their first NESCAC match up of the season. The Mules used a dominant combined shutout and a timely third-inning RBI to edge out Tufts University 1-0 at Sol Gittleman Park.

Thomas Rioux silenced the Jumbos for 7.1 innings, allowing just four hits while facing 27 batters. He consistently worked out of jams, aided by a defense that played error-free baseball behind him. When Rioux exited in the eighth inning, Matt Mahoney took over to slam the door, throwing 1.2 scoreless innings and allowing only one hit to secure the save and the victory for the Mules.

The game's only run came in the top of the third inning, as Marco Zirpolo ignited the rally with a sharp double to left field. After moving up, Zirpolo was driven home when Myles Gythfeldt laced a clutch single to center field. Gythfeldt then showed off his speed on the base paths, stealing second to keep the pressure on, though the 1-0 lead proved to be all the Mules would need.

Colby's offense out-hit Tufts 10-5 on the day. Patrick Shrake and Will Burns both turned in multi-hit performances, each going 2-for-4. Myles Oo was a constant threat at the bottom of the lineup, reaching base three times with two hits and a walk while adding two stolen bases to his season total. Jeb Burkhart also contributed two hits in the winning effort.

The Mules' defense was clinical, highlighted by an inning-ending double play in the seventh started by Burns to neutralize a Tufts scoring threat. In the final frame, Mahoney induced a ground out to second base to wrap up the contest and to give Colby their first conference win of the 2026 season.

The Mules and Jumbos face off again tomorrow in a doubleheader at 12pm.