MEDFORD, MA (April 5, 2023) –
Josie Steinberg and
Haley Leimbach both hit two-run singles to lead a five-run sixth inning for Tufts as the Jumbos pulled away from Brandeis University for 10-5 non-conference softball victory Wednesday afternoon at Spicer Field.
Game two of the scheduled double-header was halted due to darkness after five innings with the Jumbos leading 5-0. The teams will look to continue the game at a later date.
In a game that was much closer than the final score indicated, Tufts' five-run sixth inning turned a 5-5 tie into a 10-5 advantage. All five runs were unearned as the Judges committed two errors in the inning, but a sacrifice fly from
Kaitlyn Perucci and the two-run hits from Steinberg and Leimbach gave Tufts the advantage.
Jumbo senior pitcher
Sophia DiCocco would earn the win in relief, going three innings allowing three hits and an unearned run. She improved to 6-1.
Tufts (17-1) had taken a 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and second frames.
Michelle Adelman manufactured the first-inning run when she reached by fielder's choice and took second when Brandeis left the bag uncovered before getting the ball back to the pitcher. She went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Perucci's single to right. Then
Kat Yuzefpolsky singled home a run in the second.
Jumbo starter
Sky Johnson worked out of trouble in the first and third innings, stranding four Judges on base. However, Brandeis broke through and scored four times in the fourth. Tufts made two errors in the inning, while Erin Hunt had an rbi single and Maddie Manes and Alex Cohen both hit sac flies helping the Judges take a 4-2 lead.
Brandeis starter Ragini Kannan held the lead with a scoreless fourth, but Tufts tallied three times in the fifth to take a 5-4 lead.
Bela Jimenez and Perucci singled, Steinberg hit a sac fly,
Rachel Moore doubled home a run and Leimbach singled home the go-ahead run.
The Judges (11-4) tied the game in the top of the sixth after Manes singled with one out and later scored on Tufts' third error. However, the Jumbos would rally again to earn the win.
Jimenez, Perucci and Leimbach all had three hits for Tufts, who finished with 13. Leimbach and Steinberg both drove in three runs, while Jimenez and Moore each scored twice.
Hunt had three hits for Brandeis and Manes finished with two. Kannan took her first loss of the year after allowing the 13 hits and five earned runs in six innings.
Leimbach stayed hot in the second game with a two-run single keying a five-run bottom of the first for Tufts. Otherwise, the game was a pitching duel between Tufts first-year
Emilie Doty and Brandeis reliever Alex Cohen until it was suspended.
--JUMBOS--
