Box Score CLERMONT, Fla. - Senior co-captain Erica County pitched a one-hit shutout, and junior 1B Cassie Ruscz hit two home runs as the Tufts softball team earned an 8-0 win in six innings over New England region rival Wellesley College in Florida on Monday morning.
County pitched her second shutout in as many days, following Sunday's blanking of Worcester State. Today she allowed just a single to Wellesley's Amanda Manning leading off the fourth. County walked two and struck out five while improving to 2-1.
Ruscz hit a two-run home run in the first inning and then a solo shot in the third. She finished 3 for 4 with three rbis and two runs to lead Tufts' 14-hit attack. Sophomore catcher Raven Fournier added a 2 for 3 game with two rbis and two runs, while senior 2B Christina Raso was 2 for 3 with two rbis and a run.
The Jumbos started with a three-run first inning. After a single by Carrie Copacino to lead off followed by Raso's sacrifice, Fournier tripled to right field scoring Copacino with the game's first run. Ruscz followed with a home run to center and it was 3-0 Jumbos.
In the Wellesley second, Anna Pisac walked and then stole second and third. County left her there however with a pair of groundouts and a strikeout.
Tufts added to its lead in the second on a two-out rbi double by Raso scoring sophomore DP Sarah Finnigan, who had led off with a single.
Ruscz's homer in the third made it 5-0. County left runners on first and second in the Wellesley fourth, and stranded a runner on third with one out in the fifth to keep her shutout going.
After County's fourth 1-2-3 inning in the top of the sixth, the Jumbos ended the game with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Freshman pinch hitter Kristen Caporelli walked, with Copacino reentering and stealing second. Raso doubled her home and then scored on a double down the line by Fournier. The game ended when sophomore pinch hitter Raina Galbiati singled Fournier home with two outs.
Finnigan also had two hits for Tufts, which improved to 2-2. Copacino scored twice.
Wellesley's Julia Warner took the loss allowing seven hits and five runs in three innings.
The last time these teams played was at Tufts' Spicer Field in the NCAA Regionals last May, with the Jumbos taking a 3-1 win. Wellesley dropped to 1-2 with today's loss.
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