Box Score HARTFORD, CT - The #1 ranked Tufts University softball team improved to 23-0 overall and 5-0 in the division with a 9-0 win in five innings at Trinity on Friday afternoon in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) East Division action at Campus Field.
With the loss, the Bantams move to 6-17 on the year and 2-5 in league play.
Tufts senior pitcher Allyson Fournier was stellar in the circle, going the distance and striking out 11 batters to earn her 13th win of the spring. The reigning NESCAC Pitcher of the Week allowed just two hits (both in the fourth inning) while keeping the Trinity hitters off balance all afternoon. On the opposite side, first-year pitcher Rachael Smith was saddled with the loss for the Bantams. In five innings of work, Smith surrendered eight hits and eight earned runs to go along with four strikeouts.
Offensively, the Jumbos were led by sophomore Cassie Ruscz who went 1 for 1 with a home run two rbis, two walks and two runs scored. First-year right fielder Michelle Chisdak was 3 for 3 with three runs scored and an rbi hitting out of the eighth spot. The other jumbo to register a multi-hit game was junior shortstop Christina Raso, as she smacked two hits and had two rbis.
Both the Bantams hits came with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, as junior leftfielder Erica Quinones broke up Fournier's no-hit bid with a line drive single to left center. With Quinones on first, first-year catcher Paola Otero smacked a liner to the fence in right center that brought Quinones charging around the bases. After a perfectly executed relay from the rightfielder to the second basemen, Quinones was cut down at the plate to end the frame.
The Jumbos opened the scoring in the top of the first as Ruscz crushed a two-out, two-run shot to center. After Fournier struck out the side in the bottom half, Tufts added two more runs in the top of the second as sophomore Carrie Copacino walked with the bases loaded and Bri Keenan followed with a sac fly to center.
In the bottom of the second, Fournier once again struck out the side and in the top half of the third the visitors stretched their lead to eight with four runsruns. Raso's two-run double highlighted the inning. Chisdak doubled to lead off the fifth and scored on an error for the ninth Tufts run.
Trinity and Tufts continue their weekend three-game NESCAC East Division series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at noon.
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