Box Score MEDFORD - Junior Kristin Gallagher hit a pair of clutch, two-out, two-run singles as the WPI softball team won an NCAA Regional title with a 4-2 victory against host Tufts on Sunday afternoon.
The Engineers (38-7) advance to an NCAA Super Reginal next week against the winner of the Williams College versus MIT Regional that will be decided later today.
WPI entered Sunday needing just one win to capture the Regional crown. They had earned a pair of extra-inning victories earlier in the weekend, defeating Salve Regina 4-3 in nine innings on Friday and Tufts 3-2 in eight innings on Saturday.
The Jumbos, who tied today's game at 2-2 with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, finish their season with a 30-12 record.
Gallagher's first two-run single of the game came in the third inning. The Jumbos had already cut down a run at the plate, with senior Christina Raso fielding a grounder and firing home to Raven Fournier who tagged out Renee LeClaire trying to score. However, with the bases loaded and two outs, Gallagher hit a single up the middle scoring Nina Murphy-Cook and Ama Biney for a 2-0 WPI lead.
Engineeer starting pitcher Clare Doolin kept the Jumbos off the scoreboard for five innings despite Tufts putting runners on base in every frame. Tufts had runners on first and second with no outs after a Summer Horowitz single in the fourth, but did not score. Murphy-Cook made a nice running catch of a foul ball at the fence for the third out. Tufts had left seven runners on base through five innings.
Down to six outs left, the Jumbos rallied to score twice in the sixth and tie the game. Samantha Siciliano was hit by a pitch and went to third on a single by Christian Cain. Maggie Hoffman grounded out to first base scoring Siciliano with Tufts' first run. Pinch hitter Raina Galbiati then lofted a long fly to left that almost went out, but glanced off Murphy-Cook's glove for a run-scoring double tying the game. Galbiati took third on a wild pitch, but Doolan induced a ground out to end the inning.
WPI answered in the seventh. With Jacquelyne DiTroia on first after a fielder's choice, Murphy-Cook singled up the middle. With two outs, Lindsay Gurska earned a walk to load the bases. Gallagher then hit a two-strike pitch for a two-run single inside the right-field line scoring DiTroia and Murphy-Cook for a 4-2 Engineers lead.
Tufts' Carrie Copacino led off the bottom of the seventh with a single, but Cassie Ruscz's line drive was snared by WPI shortstop Hope Shevchuk and she doubled Copacino off first. Doolin recorded the final out on a pop up and WPI earned a second straight NCAA Regional title.
Gallagher earned Most Outstanding Player honors for her championship game heroics. Murphy-Cook, 2 for 4 today with two runs, Ama Biney (1 for 4, run), and Doolin made the All-Tournament team. Doolin earned her 16th win today allowing eght hits and two runs with six strikeouts and a walk in seven innings.
Ruscz, Raso, and Erica County were named to the All-Tournament team for Tufts. Raso was 2 for 4 today as the Jumbos out-hit the Engineers 8-7. Cain and Galbiati also had two hits apiece. County gave up seven hits and four runs with a strikeout and three walks in seven innings while taking the loss.
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