Tim Kiely pitched the 13th perfect game in D-III baseball history. Trinity (Conn.) athletics photo

On Saturday April 21, Junior right-handed pitcher Tim Kiely pitched the first perfect game in the 139-year history of Trinity (Conn.) and 13th ever in Division III Baseball history to lead the Bantams to a 4-0 win in the first game and a split in the doubleheader against the visiting Tufts Jumbos in NESCAC East Division action. The Bantams, ranked No. 2 in New England and No. 20 in the nation, dropped the second game, 13-6. Trinity is now 22-5 overall and finishes 8-4 in the NESCAC East Division. Tufts, ranked No. 5 in New England, moves to 17-8 overall and 7-2 in the division.

Kiely struck out six of the first nine batters he faced, finishing with nine strikeouts for the day, and allowed just two routine fly balls to leave the infield in an efficient, 79-pitch performance. The closest Tufts came to reaching base was a liner over the head of Trinity shortstop Tom DiBenedetto that the junior leaped for and caught at the peak of his jump to save the perfect game. Trinity scored three runs in fourth inning on a leadoff double by freshman first baseman Kent Graham, a single by junior outfielder Matt Stafford that scored Graham after it was misplayed by the Tufts centerfielder, and a two-run homer run by freshman outfielder James Wood. Bantam junior third baseman Guy Gogliettino tripled in an insurance run in the sixth frame. Tufts junior pitcher Adam Telian also went the distance, striking out four and scattering 10 hits in a losing effort.