Springfield, Mass. – February 28, 2026 – The Springfield College baseball team opened its 2026 slate with a 5-0 setback to Amherst College on Saturday afternoon on Archie Allen Field.

Amherst starts its season 1-0, while Springfield dropped to 0-1.

Amherst's pitching tandem of Nick Fassert and Saahi Jetti surrendered just three hits to Springfield on the day and combined for 14 strikeouts in the nine inning shutout.

Springfield's 1-2-3 hitters of Michael Lepere (Beacon, N.Y.), Nicholas Lloyd (Easthampton, Mass.) and Chris Balchius (Norwalk, Conn.) all notched one hit, while Amherst's offense was sparked by a 3-for-4 day by Charlie LaFreniere. Carson Ames and Jack Darcy also drove in two runs apiece for the Mammoths.

Springfield loaded the bases in the first on two walks and single by Balchius, but Fassert struck out the side to end the threat. Amherst responded in the top of the second as a leadoff walk and single by LaFreniere led to a two-run triple to center by Darcy.

Neither team was able to muster a run over the next five frames as the Springfield pitching duo of Nate Kelleher-Mochak (Florence, Mass.) and Josh Mayo (Westfield, Mass.) held the Amherst bats quiet until the eighth. Meanwhile, Jetti – over the final six frames of the game – struck out ten of the 17 batters he faced and didn't allow a hit.

Amherst put the game out of reach in the eighth with a three spot as an RBI double by LaFreniere plated the first run before Ames singled to center with runners on second and third to account for the 5-0 final.

Springfield will host Western New England on Wednesday at 2:45pm.

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