Box Score
The Ephs, 4-0 since returning home from their Florida spring trip, improved to 12-3 overall. Tufts, playing their home and New England openers, dropped to 7-6.
Williams sophomore Brenna Martinez hit a two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning which ulimately made the difference in game one. Seniors Erica Li and Donze both had a pair of hits and scored twice for the Ephs in game two.
Williams pitchers Brooke Bovier and Mackenzie Murphy held Tufts hitless through five innings in the first game while the Ephs build a 4-0 lead. With the bases loaded in the third, senior 1B Melissa Cendejas drew a walk to bring home the first run and then Martinez singled home another. Donze doubled to lead off the fourth and scored on a ground out making it 3-0 and then doubled home Cendejas with two outs in the fifth for the fourth Eph run.
Martinez's home run did not seem especially meaningful when it was hit. However, Jumbo sophomore LF Samantha Sicilianohit a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the seventh and junior DP Summer Horowitz later added a three-run shot as the hosts closed to within 6-4. Murphy recorded the final two outs to save the victory.
Bovier did not allow a hit or a run in 4.2 innings, but was wild with five walks and four hit-batters. She earned the win improving to 4-1. Murphy allowed Tufts' first hit, a single through the right side by freshmanKristen Caporelli with one out in the sixth.
Martinez finished 3 for 3 with three rbis and a run while Donze was 3 for 4 with a run and an rbi in game one for Williams. Cendejas scored twice and senoir 3B Kacey Cramer had two hits.
Senior pitcher Erica County went the distance and took the loss for Tufts.
In game two, Williams scored twice in the first as Li doubled to lead off the game and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Donze singled and scored on a ground out by sophomore catcher Lexi Curt.
The Jumbos tied the score with a pair in the second. Junior 1B Cassie Ruscz led off with a walk and scored on a base hit by sophomore RF Raven Fournier. Horowitz singled and scored on a free pass to sophomore DH Michelle Chisdak. The Jumbos had another run cut down at the plate as Donze had an assist from right field.
Junior 2B Alison Michalik, Li, and Donze had three straight singles to open the Williams third, with Donze's scoring Michalik. An outfield error by the Jumbos scored two more runs and Williams led 5-2.
Fournier deliverd another rbi single for Tufts in the third, closing the gap to 5-3. Chisdak doubled and scored on a single by senior 2B Christina Raso making it a 5-4 game in the fourth.
Williams added an insurance run in the fifth and they would need it. Curt hit a one-out single and scored on a base hit to center by Amanda Siedem.
The Jumbos had another runner thrown out at the plate by a Williams outfielder as Li earned an assist from left field in the fifth. However, with the bases loaded Raso nubbed a ball that spun out in front of the plate and never went foul scoring Maggie Hoffman, who had walked. Tufts had the tying run on third when Williams starter Alejandra Magana finished off the victory.
Magana improved to 4-1 allowing nine hits and five runs (four earned). Siedem had two hits off the bench for Williams in game two.
Raso was 2 for 4 with two rbis atop the Tufts order, while Fournier finished 2 for 2 with two rbis and Horowitz was 2 for 3 with a run. Chisdak was 2 for 2 with a run and an rbi. Raina Galbiati took the pitching loss.
Tufts starts NESCAC East Division action at home against Bowdoin on Friday at 4 pm. Williams plays a pair at MIT on Thursday at 3 pm.
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