The Jeffs took to the road last Wednesday to take on Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU), the 24th ranked team in the nation. ECSU came into the game with a season record of 17-7, while the Jeffs have hovered around .500 all season. Head Coach Bill Thurston called on hurler Dave Krauser '02 to take up the challenge posed by ECSU and lead Amherst to a win. However, the power attack of the Warriors proved too much for Krauser, who had not pitched in a while, and the Jeffs fell behind early 5-0 and never regained control. After putting down Amherst one-two-three in the first, the Warriors got right on the board, scoring one run on two hits and two Amherst errors. The Jeffs had their chances in the fourth and fifth innings but left four runners on base and only managed to manufacture one run on a single by Devin Haran '03. In the same two innings ESCU answered with two homers and four runs. Three of the Warrior's four runs were scored with two outs, and one of them was unearned. Despite RBIs from Ryan Whitmarsh '01 and Jordan Krall '01 in the top of the sixth, the Jeffs were unable to mount an attack that would dig them out of the six-run hole. The Jeffs dropped the game 6-3, falling to 7-7 on the year.

After the game Thurston complimented ECSU by calling them "the best team [they] had played up north." Yet he was disappointed with his own team's defense, lack of clutch hitting and struggling pitching.

The Jeffs came home Saturday to play Colby College. The White Mules came into the game with a record of 5-6, having just dropped a game Wednesday to Brandeis University. Avenging their loss, the Jeffs beat the Mules twice, holding Colby to two runs in both games and scoring 12 runs on 17 hits in the second game.

In the first game, Jeff Leduc '02 pitched his third complete game of the season for Amherst in a 3-2 win, improving his record to 3-0 on the season. "He's throwing really well," said Thurston. "His command is very good, and he isn't walking anyone." Against Colby, in seven innings of work, Leduc gave up just six hits and three walks with three strikeouts.

The Mules started Brandon Royce, who held Amherst to three runs, all earned on one hit by Whitmarsh. In the third inning Whitmarsh stepped to the plate with John Brody '02, who had doubled on second, and Brett Nicol '03, who had walked one batter earlier, on first. Whitmarsh then pounded a high change-up deep over the left-field fence for his third home run of the season, giving the Jeffs a 3-1 lead. Brody went two for four in the game with two doubles, and Krall added two hits for the Jeffs.

With new life the Jeffs took the field for the second game of their double-header against Colby. With Andy Kerns '04 on the mound, Amherst pounded out 17 hits against three different Mule pitchers. The Jeffs pulled in front early after Brody reached on a throwing error, stole second and then took third on a wild pitch. With Brody on third, Co-captain Dave Siegle '01 doubled into the left centerfield gap. Nicol then added a hit to bring in Siegle and give Amherst a 2-0 lead. The Jeffs scored again in the fourth when Krall singled home catcher J.R. Drabick '02 and outfielder Paul Whiting '04 doubled down the left-field line.

The Amherst attack then went into full steam when they scored three in the sixth and then five in the top of the ninth. In the game, Brody went two for five with two RBIs, Nicol went three for four with an RBI and a triple, Krall went three for five with an RBI and two doubles, and Whiting, playing the whole game in right, went three for five with two doubles and three RBIs in the ninth slot.

Commenting on the week's games Thurston said, "We have a long way to go, but we got two good wins where our defense was outstanding." He added that he was "disappointed about where we are. We had a great batting average but didn't hit in the clutch." As a team the Jeffs are batting .351 but only have a total of 89 RBIs in 16 games. Compare this to Williams College, who is batting .345 as a team but have a total of 127 RBIs in only 14 games. So, Thurston, who has been playing only nine or ten players regularly, is still looking for that magic lineup that will drive in runs and win games for the Jeffs. Thurston and the rest of the team are still waiting for injured Co-captain Kevin Downes '01 to come back for the Jeffs in full force on the mound.

If weather permits, Amherst is scheduled to play Keene State College today and Westfield State College on Thursday. On Saturday, Amherst is scheduled to play Little III rival Wesleyan University in another weekend doubleheader, and they will travel to Wesleyan on sunday for one game. The Cardinals are 13-7-1 on the year .