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Box Score 2 BRUNSWICK, Maine – Freshman pitcher Gillian O'Connor posted two victories and freshman Jamie Stevens went 5-for-7, including hitting her third career home run, for the Tufts University softball team in a doubleheader on Sunday, as the Jumbos defeated Bowdoin, 8-1 and 6-3, during Game 1 and 2, respectively, in Brunswick, Maine.
The Jumbos (18-12, 6-4 in NESCAC East Division), who dropped the first game of the series, 4-3, on Saturday, are now only a half game behind the second-place Polar Bears (24-8, 6-3 in East Division) in the NESCAC Conference East Division standings. Trinity (Conn.) sits atop the division with an impressive 7-2 conference mark.
The Jumbos were firing on all cylinders during Game 1, as O'Connor (8-4) went six strong innings, giving up one run on four hits, and Stevens went 2-for-3, along with a homer, single, two RBIs and two runs scored, as the visitors ended the Bears' 13-game winning streak with eight unanswered runs between the fifth and seventh frames.
The Jumbos also received strong performances from senior captain Carrie Copacino (2-for-3, two bunt singles, run scored), senior first baseman Summer Horowitz (2-for-4, two singles, two RBIs, run scored) and senior captain Cassie Ruscz (2-for-4, two singles, RBI).
Junior Ali Miller led the Bears with a 2-for-3 performance in the box, as she drove a pair of singles. Freshman pitcher Allison Rutz was tagged with the loss, working 4 1/3 innings, giving up nine hits and six runs, with five being earned.
The Bears drew first blood in the bottom of the first, as they looked to pick up where they left off on Saturday. Senior Emily Griffin (10-3), who earned the victory on the mound for the Bears in the 4-3 series-opening victory on Saturday, tallied a one-out single. She then stole second and advanced to third on an error. Griffin did not have to wait around on third long, as she crossed home on a sacrifice fly to right field by senior Marisa O'Toole.
The Jumbos' bats were fairly quiet in the opening four innings. The squad was able to tally one hit in each frame, but were not able to get a runner past first until the fourth.
The fifth inning was the Jumbos' breakout frame, as the visitors slammed the scoreboard for seven runs. The squad quickly loaded the bases with no outs, and then sophomore shortstop Christian Cain crossed home on an error. An RBI ground out to second by freshman left fielder Emily Serata scored Copacino, giving the visitors the lead for good at 2-1.
One batter later, Ruscz ripped an RBI single to left, scoring junior second baseman Samantha Siciliano from third. With still only out one in the frame, Horowitz connected on a two-run single to right, scoring freshman Maggie Lebinski and junior catcher Raven Fournier, extending the Jumbos' cushion to 5-1.
Horowitz was unable to get comfortable on base, as next up was Stevens, and the Libertyville, Illinois, native sent a two-run shot flying over the fence. The Jumbos exited the fifth inning with a 7-1 lead.
Stevens scored the final run for the Jumbos with two outs in the seventh on an RBI double by Cain.
In the second game, O'Connor and Griffin had a pitchers' duel going through the opening three innings, as O'Connor kept the Bears hitless during the opening 2 1/3 innings. Griffin only relinquished two hits during the first three frames, while retiring the side in order during the third.
The Jumbos' offense woke up in the fourth, as Fournier (3-for-4, two singles, double, two runs scored, RBI) started the rally with a two-out single down the left-field line. Horowitz (2-for-4, two singles, two RBIs, run scored) then knocked a single to right, advancing Fournier to third. Cain (2-for-4, two singles, two RBIs) stepped into the box with a pair of runners in scoring position, as sophomore Amolee Hawkins, who pinch ran for Horowitz, stole second. Cain did not let the great opportunity go to waste, connecting on a two-run single up the middle, and the Jumbos led 2-0.
The Jumbos took complete control of the game one inning later, as Fournier smashed a one-out, one-run double down the right-field line, scoring Stevens (3-for-4, two singles, double, run scored), and then Horowitz allowed a pair of Jumbos to cross home with a clutch two-run single to left, scoring Ruscz and Fournier. The Jumbos extended their lead to 6-1 on a sacrifice fly by senior left fielder Maggie Hoffman to right, plating Horowitz from third.
The Bears peppered O'Connor with one-run innings in the fourth and fifth to hang around. Sophomore Caroline Rice drove a one-out double in the fourth and crossed home on an RBI ground out by junior Lauren O'Shea. The Bears cut the deficit to 6-2 in the fifth, thanks to a two-out RBI single to right by O'Toole, scoring Miller (2-for-4, two singles, run scored) from second.
The Bears fought to the end and made the game a little bit interesting in the seventh, putting a pair of runners in scoring position with no outs down by four. Junior pitcher Raina Galbiati was called upon by the Jumbos in a relief role and stemmed the tide. Griffin recorded a sacrifice fly to center, scoring junior Jordan Gowdy from third, but the Jumbos were more than happy to get an out.
Galbiati put two outs on the scoreboard, forcing O'Toole to fly out to right. Two at-bats later, Galbiati sealed the deal, striking out freshman Allison Rutz looking, as the Jumbos took two out of three games during a highly-anticipated series.
O'Connor earned the win, giving up three runs, with one being earned, on eight hits in six innings. Griffin was handed the loss, working 4 1/3 innings, relinquishing six runs on nine hits.
The Jumbos will return home on Tuesday for a doubleheader against Wheaton (Mass.), starting at 3:30 p.m. from Spicer Field in Medford, Massachusetts.
Written by Trevor Wenners, Athletic Communications Intern
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