Box Score 
Recap courtesy of Williams College
WILLIAMSTOWN - Riding an eight-run bottom of the fourth inning that featured back-to-back-to-back home runs, the Tufts University softball team powered its way to a third straight NESCAC Championship title and ninth overall Sunday morning via a 10-2 victory over Williams at Cole Field.
The Jumbos improved to 37-3 with the victory while Williams fell to 24-11. Tufts receives the NESCAC automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. Williams will await word of an at-large berth. The softball selection show is at 10 am Monday on NCAA.com.
Tufts took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when lead-off hitter Michelle Cooprider launched a 3-1 pitch over the fence in center field for a home run.
It remained 1-0 Tufts until the top of the fourth. Williams senior Ali Graebner drew a leadoff walk from Jumbo ace Allyson Fournier. Priscilla Pino followed with a liner to right for a single that sent Graebner to third. Lindsey Precht then ripped a Fournier offering into left for an rbi-single that tied the game. Mo Frank then lined an opposite-field single to left that loaded the bases.
Fournier fell behind Melissa Cendejas 3-1 before rallying to strike her out swinging. She then went to 3-2 on pinch-hitter Ashley Wirth before striking her out swinging. Eph lead-off batter Alison Michalik flew out to left to end the threat.
Carrie Copacino led off the bottom of the frame for Tufts by beating out a bunt between the circle and third base. Bri Keenan looped a liner toward center that was misplayed. Christina Raso sacrificed the runners to second and third with a bunt. Cooprider then lashed a grounder toward the shortstop hole that Michalik dove for and knocked down but had no play. Sarah Hedtler then ripped a grounder up the middle that Michalik dove for and stopped, but again did not have a play as Tufts took a 3-1 lead.
Tufts senior Jo Clair turned the game around when she blasted a three-run homer to left-center, her 18th of the season, to make it 6-1. Carrie Ruscz then got just enough of a Harrington offering to clear the fence straight down the left-field line. Gracie Marshall then smacked a scorching liner to center that cleared the leap of Graebner and the fence for the Jumbos third straight homer and an 8-1 lead.
Emalie Rott replaced Harrington in the circle and walked Chrissie Massrey. Kayla Holland had a pinch-hit double and Bri Keenan made it 9-1 with an rbi-grounder to second.
Williams got a run back in the top of the fifth when Erica Li led off with a long double to right, took third on a wild pitch and scored when Kacey Cramer grounded out to second.
Tufts ended the game in its half of the frame when Cooprider led off with a single and took second on a groundout. Cooprider stole third as Clair was intentionally walked. Rucsz was also given a free pass to load the bases, but Marshall made it academic by hitting a ball deep enough to center for a game-ending sacrifice fly. The game was ended due to the eight-run mercy rule.
Fournier improved to 19-0 with the win, giving up six hits and two runs, both earned, while walking one and striking out three. Clair was 3 for 3 with three rbis and a run scored. Cooprider was 3 for 4 with two rbis and three runs scored. Marshall was 2 for 2 with two rbis and two runs scored and Ruscz was 2 for 3 with an rbi and run scored.
For Williams, Frank was 2 for 2 and Pino 2 for 3. Harrington took the loss, falling to 12-6 on the season.
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