AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The Eastern Connecticut State University baseball team scored two tying runs with two out in the bottom of the eighth inning, but Babson College scored the go-ahead run in the top of the tenth with the help of two hit batters and a passed ball for a 10-9, ten-inning victory Tuesday morning.

The win is the first of the year for Babson (1-4) and snaps a four-game losing streak at the hands of  Eastern  (3-3).

In additon to stroking two triples and a double among his four hits, Brendan Lynch (at right) colected three assists and two putouts at shortstop.

Eastern sophomore righty Adam Merritt (Seymour) had set down  all seven batters he faced as the third of three Eastern pitchers – preventing a ball from leaving the infield – but allowed a leadoff single to open the tenth.  After a sacrifice bunt moved the go-ahead run into scoring position, Merritt (0-1) hit the next two batters to lead the bases. An infield ground ball erased a runner at the plate before a two-out passed ball plated the go-ahead run.

In the bottom of the tenth, winning pitcher Derek Richards (1-0) walked No. 8 hitter Gavin Lavallee (New Milford) with one out, but gained his first win in his first decision with a pair of outfield fly balls.

Making his first collegiate appearance, Eastern starting sophomore pitcher Patrick O'Neill (Thomaston) was driven from the mound during a five-run Babson fifth inning. The outburst lifted the Beavers into an 8-2 lead before the Warriors answered with four in the bottom of the inning on four hits (including a leadoff double by sophomore Tim Budd (Cheshire) and RBI triple by senior  Brendan Lynch (Wethersfield).

Lynch, who had five hits in Sunday's 17-7 win over Denison en route to Little East Conference Player-of-the-Week honors, had four hits – including a double and two triples -- four RBI and three runs scored Tuesday to move to within four of  his 100th career hit.

Eastern faces Ramapo College Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at Auburndale.