Box Score AMHERST, Mass. --  Despite being held to just five hits, the Amherst College baseball team used some timely hitting to stay in its game Wednesday, ultimately succumbing to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 11-7, on Memorial Field. 

The defeat saw the Mammoths fall to 17-6 overall while the Engineers improved to 11-13. The Mammoths start a key NESCAC West series at Middlebury Friday at 4 p.m. in Vermont. 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

* The Mammoths trailed 4-0 entering the bottom of the fourth but rallied for three runs to close within one. Jack McDermott drew a lead-off walk and Ryan McIntyre was hit by a pitch. After an out, Jack Dove -- who had three of the Mammoths five hits on the day -- blooped a texas leaguer over first base that fell for a hit and scored McDermott. Christian Fagnant drew a free pass to load the bases, and first-year Charlie LaFreniere was drilled in the back by a pitch to force home a run. Dove then scampered home on a wild pitch to make it 4-3. 

* A four-run top of the seventh for the visitors made it a 9-3 game, but the Mammoths responded with a run in the seventh. LaFreniere singled, took second on an errant pick-off throw, moved to third on a groundout and scampered home on a wild pitch. 

* Still fighting, Amherst struck for three runs in the bottom of the eighth to close within two runs at 9-7. One out walks to McIntyre and Luke Padian set up Dove, who crushed a ball to deep center field that hit the short fence for an RBI-double. With two outs, LaFreniere lined a single to left to score both Padian and Dove. However, Amherst set down in order in the bottom of the ninth. 

BY THE NUMBERS:

* Amherst was outhit 18--5 in the game. The Dove double was its only extra-base hit. Dove went 3 for 4 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. LaFreniere was 2 for 3 with 3 RBI and a run scored. 

* The loss went to first-year hurler Matt Tabet, who went four innings and gave up nine hits and four runs, all earned. He fell to 2-1.