Box Score
MEDFORD - The Tufts softball team had 27 hits in the two games as the Jumbos swept a non-conference double-header against Rhode Island College on Thursday afternoon at Spicer Field. Game scores were 7-1 and 11-3 (five innings).
Tufts, ranked seventh nationally, improved to 32-3 overall and swept a non-league double-header for the second straight day. They were 3-2 and 9-0 winners at Endicott College yesterday. Rhode Island College dropped below .500 to 18-20 overall.
The Jumbos had 14 hits in game one, including three by sophomore LF Bri Keenan (Portsmouth, NH). Junior RF Sara Hedtler (Wrentham, MA), junior C Jo Clair (Glastonbury, CT), senior SS Emily Beinecke (Concord, MA), and sophomore DP Gracie Marshall (Palo Alto, CA) had two hits apiece.
Rhode Island College led 1-0 in the top of the first after senior 1B Jessica Borden (Lincoln, RI) led off with a single and scored on a double by junior CF Stacy Pokora (Wilton, CT). That would be the only run allowed by Tufts senior starter Rebecca DiBiase (Wellesley, MA). She earned her sixth win surrendering seven hits and a walk with three strikeouts in seven innings.
Tufts took the lead for good in the bottom of the first when Clair launched her ninth home run of the season, a two-run shot. Back-to-back rbi doubles by Keenan and sophomore 1B Kris Parr (Austin, TX) helped make it 5-1 Jumbos in the third. Marshall's first career home run was part of a two-run fifth that completed the scoring.
Borden was 3 for 4 with a run atop RIC's batting order. Pokora finished 2 for 3 with an rbi. Junior Michelle Sylvestre (Warwick, RI) took the pitching loss, giving up eight hits and five runs in 2.1 innings.
The Anchorwomen scored in the top of the first in game two as well. Senior 2B Marisa Jandreau (Plainville, TX) hit a two-out single, moved to third on a single by Pokora and an error, and then scored on the throw back to the pitcher at the end of the play.
Tufts, who finished game two with 13 hits, tied the score in the bottom of the first. Hedtler led off with a double and scored on Beinecke's sac fly. The Jumbos then broke it open with six in the second. Beinecke's two-run double was the big hit, while Clair had an rbi double and scored, and sophomore CF Michelle Cooprider (Hopkinton, MA) singled home a run and scored.
Jumbo senior starter Aly Moskowitz (Westfield, NJ) retired the Anchorwomen 1-2-3 in the second and third innings, and soon was pitching with an 11-1 lead. Tufts scored four more in the bottom of the third as Clair doubled home a pair of runs and also scored. Keenan had an rbi single and scored in the frame.
After consecutive walks by Jandreau and Pokora to lead off the fourth, RIC made it 11-3 on a two-run single by sophomore 3B Justina Thoma (Canterbury, CT) with no outs. However, Moskowitz retired the next three batters to limit the damage. Looking to avoid an eight-run defeat in the fifth, RIC loaded the bases including a double by Jandreau. Moskowitz got the final out on a grounder though and the game ended.
The first three batters for Tufts combined to go 6 for 9 with six runs and four rbis. Clair was 2 for 2 with three rbis and two runs in the third spot. Hedtler finished 2 for 4 with two runs in the lead-off spot. Cooprider, batting second, went 2 for 3 with two runs and an rbi. Marshall and first-year 2B Abby Curran (Hamilton, MA) also had two hits.
Jandreau had two of RIC's five hits and scored two runs in the nightcap. First-year starting pitcher Katelyn McCaughey (Warwick, RI) took the loss, giving up seven hits and seven runs in 1.1 innings.
Tufts finishes its regular-season with three NESCAC East games at Spicer against Colby this weekend, starting tomorrow at 3 pm. The Anchorwomen conclude their regular-season on Saturday with a Little East double-header at UMass Boston starting at 1 pm.
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
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