Box Score CLERMONT, FL - Trailing 3-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth, the #1 ranked Tufts softball team scored eight runs to earn an eventual 9-3 victory over Plymouth State on Thursday. The result kept the Jumbos undefeated (9-0) and the Panthers winless (0-8).
Tufts scored its eight runs methodically, without a extra-base hit. First-years Raven Fournier and Samantha Siciliano led off with singles and classmate Raina Galbiati was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After a line-out, a single by sophomore Carrie Copacino and an outfield error on the play cleared the bases to give Tufts a 3-0 lead.
After the second out was made, another Tufts rally was started by sophomore Shelby Lipson's single to center scoring Copacino. The Jumbos loaded the bases again and Fournier had an rbi single in her second at-bat of the inning for a 5-0 lead. Siciliano followed with a two-run single and later scored on Galbiati's single. The Jumbos had eight hits in the inning.
Plymouth had taken an early 1-0 lead with two outs in the first. Abrie Davis, Nicole Abreu and Jessica Pieterson hit consecutive singles scoring the run.
After failing to score with bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the first, Tufts tied the game 1-1 in the fourth. Senior Bri Keenan singled home Fournier, who had led off the inning with a walk.
Tufts starter Erica County cruised through the second through fifth innings allowing no runs and two hits. However, the Panthers strung together three doubles in the sixth to ignite a two-run rally. Pieterson hit a one-out double and Taylor Wood followed with a two-bagger. However, Pieterson was thrown out at home by Jumbo senior CF Michelle Cooprider. Cynthia Barata then doubled home Wood and Lisa Osborne hit an rbi single next giving PSU a 3-1 lead.
After Tufts took control in the bottom of the sixth, County recorded the win without issue in the seventh.
The Jumbos were out-hit 11-10 as Davis (2 for 4, run), Pieterson (2 for 4, rbi) and Barata (2 for 3, rbi, run) led Plymouth. Eight Panthers had hits overall.
Fournier was 2 for 3 with three runs and an rbi to lead Tufts offensively. Siciliano finished 2 for 2 with a run and an rbi while sophomore Cassie Ruscz was 2 for 3 with a run. Tufts took six walks in the game, two by senior Stephanie Tercero.
County improved to 4-0 with the win. Despite giving up 11 hits, she did not walk a batter and limited Plymouth to two earned runs.
This was the second Tufts win over Plytmouth this week. The Jumbos blanked the Panthers 8-0 in six innings on Monday.
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