Amherst, Mass. - The Colby College Baseball team returned to play the Mammoths of Amherst College on Saturday afternoon, battling through two narrow contests in the NESCAC quarterfinals.
Game 1: Colby 0, Amherst 3
The first game of the quarterfinals was a classic postseason pitcher's duel.
Matt Higgins took the mound and delivered a stellar performance, keeping the Mules within striking distance by throwing seven full innings and allowing only one earned run. Higgins struck out four and navigated several high-pressure situations to keep the Amherst offense contained.
Colby looked to manufacture runs early, with
Corey Aubuchon and
Ellis Lynch-Kahn both drawing walks and successfully stealing second base to put pressure on the Amherst defense. However, Amherst managed to keep the Mules' bats quiet throughout the morning. Despite a sharp defensive effort, including a critical 6-4-3 double play from
Patrick Shrake to
Myles Gythfeldt to
Will Burns, unearned runs in the seventh proved to be the difference.
Sam Lowenstein pitched a scoreless eighth to give the Mules one last chance, but they were unable to break through.
Game 2: Colby 5, Amherst 6
With their season on the line in the second game, the Mules jumped out to an early lead. Burns ignited the offense in the second inning, drawing a walk and swiping second base before Aubuchon drove him home with a clutch RBI single down the left-field line. Burns continued his heroics in the fourth, launching a solo home run to right field to give Colby a 2-1 lead.
Keeler Vogt provided a gritty start on the mound, battling through 6.1 innings and surrendering just one earned run. Vogt relied on his defense, which came up big in the second inning when
Henry Silva,
Myles Gythfeldt, and Burns combined for a double play to escape a jam.
As the tension rose in the later innings, Shrake and
Duncan Cullinane added base hits to keep the pressure on, and Cullinane added a stolen base to the Mules' aggressive day on the paths.
Matt Mahoney entered in relief and struck out two over two innings of work, but a late rally by Amherst in the ninth inning ultimately brought the contest to a heart-wrenching conclusion.
The Mules displayed incredible resilience throughout the doubleheader, battling until the final out in two of the most tightly contested games of the season.
The 2026 season for Colby Baseball was defined by a competitive spirit and a knack for high-stakes drama, finishing the year with a strong 19-13 overall record, 5-7 in the conference. The team navigated a challenging NESCAC schedule and several extra-inning thrillers.
Offensive Standouts
The Colby offense combined disciplined plate appearances with aggressive base running, leading the NESCAC in several categories:
- Patrick Shrake: A consistent producer, Shrake led the team with 28 runs, 51 hits and 13 stolen bases, while also leading the team with a .386 average. He was particularly effective in clutch situations, leading the squad with a .431 on-base percentage.
- Tony Silva: The engine of the offense, T. Silva held a .317 batting average and a .428 on-base percentage. He was a constant threat to score, contributing 19 runs and 38 hits for the Mules
- Will Burns: A true power-speed threat, Burns recorded four home runs and a .427 slugging percentage.
- Myles Gythfeldt: Providing stability in the lineup, Gythfeldt posted a .315 average and drove in 16 runs. His eye at the plate was a major asset, drawing 20 walks over the course of the season.
- Corey Aubuchon: A specialist at manufacturing runs, Aubuchon recorded 18 hits, serving as a vital link in the Mules' scoring rallies.
Defensive Anchors
The Colby defense and pitching staff were defined by their ability to work out of jams and maintain composure in tight games:
- Thomas Rioux: The staff ace, Rioux led the team in innings pitched (55.0) and earned runs (4.09). Rioux posted a 4-2 record and struck out 34 batters while allowing very few extra-base hits.
- Kyle Bourque: Bourque recorded a 3-1 record with one save, striking out 15 batters in 26.2 innings and proved to be the most reliable option in high-leverage relief.
- Matt Higgins: A workhorse for the rotation, Higgins pitched 42.1 innings and struck out 34 batters. His durability allowed the Mules to stay competitive in every series opener.
- Keeler Vogt: First-year Vogt pitched 37.2 innings for the Mules, striking out 26 hitters and averaging 3.58 ERA on the mound.
- Infield Coordination: The combination of Burns, Gythfeldt, Shrake, and Silva anchored a defense that ranked among the best in the conference for double plays.
While the 2026 season reached an emotional conclusion in the NESCAC quarterfinals, the foundation laid this spring suggests a bright future for the program. The Mules will look to carry the momentum of a 19-win season into next year, bolstered by a roster that gained invaluable postseason experience in high-pressure environments.
