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Box Score 2 MEDFORD, Mass. – Freshman Kate Kopatic belted the game-winning double during a 3-2 victory in first-game action for the Amherst College softball team over Tufts University on Saturday, and then the Mammoths posted 11 runs during a two-inning span in an 11-3 five-inning, Game 2 triumph at Spicer Field in Medford, Massachusetts.
The Jumbos (18-14, 6-4 in NESCAC East Division) have been eliminated from conference playoff contention, as Bowdoin College defeated Bates in both games during a doubleheader in Brunswick, Maine, on Saturday. The Jumbos will finish third in the NESCAC Conference East Division, as the top-two teams from the East and West Division qualify for the postseason tournament.
The Mammoths (26-8, 10-2 in NESCAC West Division) have already clinched a spot in the conference tournament. Bowdon (27-8, 9-3 in East Division) and Trinity (19-13, 8-4 in East Division) qualified for the tournament from the East Division, while Amherst and Williams (27-10, 10-1 in West Division) will represent the West Division in the event.
The Jumbos and Mammoths found themselves in a highly-competitive Game 1, with the score knotted at 2-2 heading into the top half of the seventh. Sophomore Sammy Salustri (2-for-4, double, single, two runs scored) knocked a one-out single to second base. Freshman pitcher Gillian O'Connor struck out sophomore Kyra Naftel, and then Kopatic nailed a two-out RBI double to right-center, scoring Salustri from first, as the run stood up as the game-winning tally.
Salustri opened the scoring for the Mammoths in the first, as an error allowed her to cross home plate with an unearned run. Junior catcher Raven Fournier (2-for-2, homer, double, two runs scored, RBI) picked up her Jumbos with a leadoff solo shot to left-center in the second, evening the score at 1-1. The homer was the fourth on the season for the Springfield, Massachusetts, native, giving her the second most on the team.
The Mammoths regained a one-run advantage on a two-out RBI single to center field by senior captain Alena Marovitz, plating junior pitcher Gina Pagan from third in the sixth. The Jumbos had one more push in them, as Fournier made her presence felt in the box again, leading off the bottom of the sixth with a one-out double to left-center. Senior first baseman Summer Horowitz tallied a single to center, which put Fournier at third with still only one out. Freshman third baseman Jamie Stevens then made an intelligent play, driving a deep sacrifice fly to center, which allowed Fournier to knot the score at 2-2.
The two starting pitchers went the distance in this matchup, only relinquishing a combined 12 hits and five runs. O'Connor (8-5) gave up seven hits and three runs, with two being earned, in seven frames, while striking out three and walking three. Pagan (15-4) struck out six Jumbos in seven innings, while giving up five hits, two runs and a walk. She posted 1-2-3 innings in the first and fifth.
In second-game action, sophomore pitcher Lorena Ukanwa came out firing on the mound for the Mammoths, striking out six of the first seven batters she faced, including striking out the side swinging in the second.
The Mammoths' offense rewarded its pitcher with a five-run eruption in the third and a six-run performance during the fourth. The Mammoths did the bulk of their damage with two down in the third, as Marovitz posted an RBI single up the middle with runners on first and second. Then, sophomore Julia Turner stepped foot into the box with runners on second and third and drilled a two-run double to left, giving the visitors a 3-0 lead. Freshman Andrea Sanders (3-for-3, two doubles, triple, four RBIs, two runs scored) continued the rout, scoring Turner on a triple to left, and then Sanders crossed home on a single by sophomore Annie Murphy to left, ending the five-run frame.
The Mammoths loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth. Naftel took advantage of the great opportunity, connecting on an RBI single to left. Next, Marovitz was hit by a pitch, allowing senior captain Lauren Tuiskula to cross home with the Mammoths' seventh run.
Two batters later, Sanders continued the rally, ripping a bases-clearing, three-run double down the left-field line. The rally finally came to an end with a two-out RBI single by senior captain Annie Apffel, as the Mammoths held a convincing 11-0 lead.
The Jumbos needed to score four runs in the bottom of the fifth to continue the game. With two down and a runner on second, it would have been easy for the squad to pack it in, but the Jumbos did the exact opposite, reeling off a three-run spurt. The run was highlighted by an RBI single to left by senior left fielder Maggie Hoffman, which ended up scoring sophomores Amolee Hawkins and Kristen Caporelli, with Caporelli's run being the result of an error. Fournier also connected on an RBI single to left during the run, which scored Hoffman and brought the Jumbos to within 11-3.
Ukanwa (7-2) earned the compete-game win on the mound for the visitors, giving up six hits and three runs, with none being earned, while putting eight people down by strikeouts. Junior pitcher Raina Galbiati (7-2) was charged with the loss, giving up seven hits and five runs in 2 2/3 innings.
The Jumbos will conclude their NESCAC Conference East Division slate on Sunday with a doubleheader against Bates, starting at noon at Spicer Field in Medford, Massachusetts.
Written by Trevor Wenners, Athletic Communications Intern
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