Gilchrist NESCAC Pitcher of the Week

Medford Resident, MC Grad, Pitches for Tufts

Sophomore Jumbo Kevin Gilchrist, a Medford resident and former Malden Catholic standout, has been recognized as this week’s New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Pitcher of the Week.

Making just the second start of his career for Tufts University, Gilchrist fired a one-hitter at Bowdoin College on Friday afternoon to propel the Jumbos to a 5-0 victory.

A sturdy 6’3″, 195-pound lefty, Gilchrist made the first start of his career in game two of an important doubleheader against Trinity College on April 18. He earned the win, allowing just two runs and no walks in six innings. On Friday, he made an equally important start at Bowdoin in the first of a three-game series as the Jumbos went to Maine looking to win twice and clinch first place in the NESCAC East Division.

After the Jumbo offense scored four times in the top of the first to give him a lead, Gilchrist held the Polar Bears hitless for 5.2 innings. He pitched his way out of a walk and two balks in the first inning, and also kept Bowdoin from scoring when the Jumbos made two errors in the fourth inning. He lost the no-hitter with two outs in the sixth when Bowdoin’s Brendan Garner ripped a double into the left-center gap. After 1-2-3 innings in the seventh and eighth, a double play by the infield helped him through two walks in the ninth as he finished off the shutout.

In all, he went nine innings allowing the one hit and no runs. He struck out five, but walked five as well. He earned 11 outs on ground balls and eight in the air. He changed speeds well, worked ahead in the count, and had great ball movement during his outing. The complete game improved his season’s record to 3-0 with a 1.50 earned run average.

Tufts went on to win the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader to take the NESCAC East pennant. The Jumbos, now 21-4 and 9-2 in the NESCAC East, are the #1 ranked team in New England. They will host the conference tournament May 7-9.

Photo and information courtesy Tufts University