Double-header recap courtesy of Babson College
BABSON PARK - Senior Jo Clair (Glastonbury, CT) homered in each game and senior Lauren Giglio (Niskayuna, NY) and sophomore Erica Country (Arlington, MA) both put together complete-game efforts as the nation's top-ranked team, Tufts University, swept a double-header against Babson College in non-conference softball action on Tuesday afternoon at Alumni Field.
The Jumbos edged the Beavers 3-1 in game one before picking up a 7-2 victory in game two. With the wins, Tufts is now 14-1 overall, while Babson drops to 10-7 on the year. The games were Tufts' first two up north since returning from their spring break trip to Florida.
Clair gave the Jumbos a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a two-out home run to left center field. The Green and White, thanks to a pair of hits and four walks, had multiple runners on base over the first four innings but stranded eight, including five in scoring position.
Tufts extended its lead in the fourth, using three consecutive singles to load the bases to open the frame. First-year Shelby Lipson (East Brunswick, NJ) took advantage with a two-run single that plated juniors Gracie Marshall (Palo Alto, CA) andStephanie Tercero (Pasadena, CA) to make it 3-0.
The Beavers finally got on the board in the sixth as senior Katie Guido (Middleton, MA) and sophomore Caitie Benoit (Williamstown, MA) led off with back-to-back singles, and senior Kelly King (Kennebunk, ME) drew a pinch-hit walk to load the bases with no one out. Guido would later race home on a wild pitch, but Giglio was able to work out of trouble, recording two of her 13 strikeouts, as well as a fly out to end the threat.
Senior Tess Rubega (Norwich, CT) took the loss for Babson, giving up three runs on nine hits while striking out three and walking two in a complete-game effort.
The Jumbos took control of game two scoring twice in the each of the second and third innings. Sophomore Christina Raso (Burlington, MA) and senior Sara Hedtler (Wrentham, MA) both produced two-out RBI singles in the second, and classmate Kayla Holland (Attleborough, MA) plated first-year Cassie Rucsz (Wolcott, CT) in the third. Marshall, who reached on a single, also scored on a double steal to make it 4-0.
The Beavers got a pair of runs right back though, as first-year Catherine Pitts (Winchester, MA) walked and sophomore Maya Lacy (East Mill Creek, UT) singled before both advanced to scoring position on a wild pitch. First-year Meaghan Merullo (Winchester, MA) smacked a two-out double to right center two batters later to make it 5-2.
Clair hit her second home run of the day in the bottom of the sixth inning for the final margin. County collected her second victory of the season for Tufts, giving up two runs on eight hits to go along with five strikeouts and two walks.
Junior Meghan Hayes (Robbinsville, NJ) took the loss for the Green and White, allowing four earned runs on five hits over three innings. First-year Abbey Schulz (Red Bank, NJ) worked the final three frames, giving up no earned runs and just two hits.
Babson returns to action on Wednesday when it hosts MIT in a double-header starting at 3 pm, while Tufts welcomes Williams to Medford for a double-header on Saturday at 12 pm.
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