CLERMONT, FL (March 16, 2024) – The Tufts University softball team took a pair of 3-1 victories over Ohio Wesleyan University and Farmingdale State University on opening day of the 2024 season Saturday at Legends Way.
The day ended in dramatic fashion. In Game 2 Farmingdale State had the tying runs on base when Allie Stanya hit a ball towards the gap in left-center. Tufts center fielder
Michelle Adelman made a sensational diving catch to end the game, likely robbing the Rams of two runs that would have tied the score.
Tufts 3, Ohio Wesleyan 1
Jumbo senior starter
Sophia DiCocco pitched three scoreless innings to open the season and then Tufts' bats scored twice in the bottom of the third against Ohio Wesleyan. With one out
Bela Jimenez singled through the left side and took third on a base hit by Adelman. Jimenez scored on a sac fly by
Josie Steinberg, then Adelman came home on single by
Kaitlyn Perucci.
The Battling Bishops got one back right away in the top of the fourth. Avery Panozzo singled to left field and advanced to second on an error on the play, then went to third on a wild pitch. She scored what would be the lone OWU run on a ground out by Sophia Cegledy.
The Jumbos added their third run in the fourth. After
Haley Leimbach hit a one-out single down the right-field line, pinch runner
Sarah Cullen was thrown out trying to take third by OWU right fielder Rylie Moore on
Lauryn Horita's single. However,
Keriann Slayton followed with a single to left that scored Horita and it was 3-1 Jumbos.
Otherwise, DiCocco for Tufts and senior Katie Chittum for OWU pitched well. DiCocco gave up six hits and one unearned run, while Chittum let up nine hits and three runs for the Battling Bishops.
Adelman with two hits and a run and Moore with two hits and an rbi led Tufts offensively. Moore and Alyssa Back both had base hits and a walk for OWU.
Tufts 3, Farmingdale State 1
The Jumbos scored twice after two were out in the top of the first to take a 2-0 lead on the Rams. Perucci started the rally with a single to left field. A deep fly to right-center by
Rachel Moore was then dropped by the right fielder going back on the ball. Perucci scored on the error, and then Moore - who made it to third - scored later when she crossed the plate on a double steal before the out was made on the other runner.
However, the Jumbos would again find themselves challenged by a scrappy opponent. Farmingdale scored in the bottom of the first, with Jenna Giliberti manufacturing the run. She singled to left, stole second base and then scored on a Tufts error while she stole third base.
The Jumbos would add an insurance run in the fourth with a
Lindsay Neumann single scoring
Haley Leimbach.
The Rams would out-hit Tufts 6-5, but Jumbo junior starter
Sky Johnson with an assist from Adelman would limit them to just one run. Johnson finished her seven innings allowing six hits and striking out seven with no walks.
Neumann ad two hits for Tufts in game two.
Stanya also went the distance for Farmingdale, allowing five hits and three runs (one earned). Angelinga Capuano had two of Farmingdale's hits.
Next Up
The Jumbos are back at it on Sunday with games against Manchester University and William Paterson University.
--JUMBOS--
