MEDFORD – Junior 2B Emily Beinecke's (Concord, MA) six-hit afternoon led the #8 Tufts University softball team to a double-header sweep of Wesleyan University, 7-5 and 3-0, in NESCAC non-divisional play on Seniors Day Saturday afternoon at Spicer Field.
Wesleyan scored first in game one after junior LF Tori Redding (Branford, CT) reached on a two-out single. After a hit by pitch, senior 2B Sam Epstein (Hewlett, NY) drove her home with a double.
Sophomore catcher Jo Clair (Glastonbury, CT) quickly tied the score in the bottom of the first as she belted a two-out solo homer to left field. Tufts then grabbed its first lead in the second inning on an RBI single by first-year RF Michelle Cooprider (Hopkinton, MA). The hit drove home Beinecke who had led off the frame with a single.
The Cardinals fought back in the third and regained the lead. First, Redding smashed a solo homer to lead things off. Then after a pair of walks, first-year RF Jill Gately (Rehoboth, MA) connected on a run-scoring double.
Tufts would tie the score in the fourth inning after the first two batters reached. Senior 1B Lena Cantone (Southington, CT) and Beinecke both singled. Sophomore Chrissie Massrey (San Juan Capistrano, CA) reached on a fielder's choice that produced no out and then Cantone would score on a wild pitch thrown by Wesleyan sophomore starter Laura Getchell (Raymond, ME). Getchell escaped further trouble by striking out the side.
The Jumbos jumped ahead in the sixth inning while sending 10 batters to the plate. First-year Gracie Marshall (Palo Alto, CA) stepped up with a pinch-hit double. After a single by senior CF Lizzy Iuppa (Paramus, NJ) and a walk to sophomore LF Sara Hedtler (Wrentham, MA), Marshall scored on a wild pitch. Clair walked to reload the bases and then Cantone promptly delivered a two-run single that was followed by another RBI base hit from Beinecke.
The insurance runs were important as Wesleyan pushed across two runs in the seventh inning on run-scoring hits by junior catcher Ashley McLaren (Essex Junction, VT) and sophomore shortstop Marissa Davila (West Windsor, NJ).
Tufts junior starter Rebecca DiBiase (Wellesley, MA) held off the rest of the Cardinal rally to earn the complete-game victory to move to 11-2 on the year. She allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits with four walks and nine strikeouts.
Getchell (3-10) suffered the loss for the Cardinals after going 5.2 innings and allowing seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits. She walked four and struck out seven.
Beinecke had a perfect game one for the Jumbos, going 4 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Cantone was the other Jumbo with a multi-hit game, finishing 2 for 4 with two RBI.
Both Redding and Gately were 2 for 4 with an RBI in game one for Wesleyan.
In game two the Jumbos took the lead in the third inning on an RBI groundout by Hedtler. Sophomore Kayla Holland (Attleborough, MA) scored the run after leading off the inning with a walk. A single helped her along from senior shortstop Mira Lieman-Sifry (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY).
That's all the offense Tufts first-year starter Allyson Fournier (South Windsor, CT) would need as she hurled a complete-game shutout. Fournier allowed three hits while walking two and striking out 14 to move her record to 15-0.
The other two runs for the Jumbos came on back-to-back solo home runs in the sixth inning by Clair and Cantone.
First-year Haylle Reidy (Old Saybrook, CT) took the loss in game two after allowing all three runs on six hits in 5.1 innings. She allowed one walk and struck out one.
Beinecke continued her torrid day adding on two more hits to finish the double-header going 6 for 7. Holland also stroked two hits in game two for the Jumbos.
Redding, Epstein and McLaren had the hits for the Cardinals off of Fournier.
The Jumbos are now 32-4 on the season and finish the regular season on Monday with a double-header at Springfield starting at 3:30 pm. Wesleyan's season ends at 8-26.
Game 1 box score
Game 2 box score
Game Photos by Kelvin Ma, Tufts University
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