Box Score
CLERMONT, FL - Senior Lauren Giglio struck out 13 Southern Maine batters in her return to the pitcher's circle on Saturday as the Tufts softball team defeated the Huskies 8-0 in six innings.
Giglio did not pitch last season, but got 2014 off to a good start allowing just four hits as Tufts secured its second eight-run rule victory of the day. They had opened the 2014 season with an 8-0 win against Ramapo.
The Tufts offense gave Giglio all the support she would need in the first. Junior 3B Bri Keenan and senior LF Sara Hedtler led off with back-to-back singles. Keenan scored on a bases-loaded walk to first-year Cassie Ruscz and Hedtler came home on a single by junior 2B Gracie Marshall. Junior CF Michelle Cooprider singled home Ruscz.
The bottom third of the order increased the lead to 5-0 for Tufts. After senior DH Chrissie Massrey got on by error, junior LF Stephanie Tercero doubled her home and then sophomore SS Christina Raso had an rbi single. After a run-scoring double in the fourth by Cooprider, it was 6-0 Jumbos.
Southern Maine had threatened in the second against Giglio, loading the bases with two outs after an error and singles by first-year Amanda Hendrickson-Belloguet and junior Lily Cooper. Giglio got a pop-out to end it, and then allowed just one runner to reach second the rest of the way. She finished strong, striking out seven of the last eight batters she faced.
Tufts added two in the sixth. Hedtler walked, senior catcher Jo Clair doubled her home and Ruscz delievered the game-ending rbi single.
The Jumbos had 11 hits overall. Hedtler was 2 for 2 with a run in the second spot. Cooprider went 2 for 3 with two rbis. Rusz scored twice and drove home two.
First-year Desiree Benner went the distance pitching for Southern Maine, allowing 11 hits and eight runs (six earned) with four walks and no strikeouts in 5.1 innings.
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