MEDFORD, MA (April 14, 2024) – Sophomore
Lauryn Horita homered in both games as the Tufts University softball team swept a NESCAC double-header over Middlebury College on Sunday 3-1 and 16-3 (5 inn).
The Jumbos celebrated Senior Day at Spicer Field, with fifth-years
Michelle Adelman,
Rachel Moore and
Josie Steinberg, and seniors
Sophia DiCocco,
Bela Jimenez and
Keila McCabe honored in a pre-game ceremony.
Tufts improved to 22-5 overall and 10-2 in NESCAC, while Middlebury dropped to 12-10 and 5-5 in the conference.
Game 1 – Tufts 3, Middlebury 1
The Panthers struck first against Tufts starter
Sky Johnson, but she settled down and earned her ninth victory going six innings allowing six hits and a run. She struck out six and did not walk a batter. DiCocco earned her third save with a 1-2-3 seventh including two strikeouts.
The visiting Panthers had left the bases loaded in the first, with Johnson getting a fly ball to end the inning. However, Middlebury took a 1-0 lead in the second when senior shortstop Cece Ziegler hit her first home run of the season to left.
Tufts would tie the game in the third when Moore doubled to left scoring Jimenez, who had reached on a fielder's choice.
The game stayed tied into the fifth where
Haley Leimbach led off with a single and pinch-runner
Sarah Cullen went to third on a Jimenez single and scored on a fielder's choice by Adelman. That put Tufts up 2-1.
Horita then hit an opposite-field home run to left for an insurance run in the sixth making it 3-1 Tufts.
Middlebury junior Sammy Hausman pitched well giving up seven hits and the three runs while taking the loss.
Perucci doubled twice for the Jumbos.
Game 2 – Tufts 16, Middlebury 3 (5 inn.)
After a competitive first game, Tufts won blew open game two quickly scoring three runs in the first inning, four in the second and nine in the third. The 16 runs and their 17 hits were both the most of the season for the Jumbos.
Moore went 2 for 3 with three runs and an rbi, Steinberg finished 3 for 3 with three runs and two rbis, Horita had a 2 for 2 with three runs and three rbis game, Perucci was 2 for 3 with two runs and two rbis, Adelman finished 2 for 2 with three rbis and a run,
Heaven Oliva went 2 for 3 with an rbi and
Fallon O'Connor scored two runs.
The Panthers again scored first in game two against Tufts starter
Claire Guitmann. Cate Viola hit a two-out single scoring McKenna Lont, who had reached on a fielder's choice.
A single by Moore and a walk to Steinberg set the table for Tufts' three-run first inning. Oliva's rbi single was the only Tufts run to score on a hit. The Jumbos' four-run second frame included Horita's three-run blast over the 220-sign in center. Adelman also doubled home Perucci – who had singled – and it was quickly 7-1 Tufts.
The Panthers stayed in it with two runs after two were out in the third. Kristyn Carroll singled and Viola doubled, then Nina Schroeder singled up the middle scoring both for a 7-3 score.
However, the first nine Jumbos who came to the plate in the third inning had hits, including a two-run double by Steinberg. Trailing 13-3 at that point, Middlebury got its first out of the inning, but also made an error on the play allowing two more runs to score. Pinch-hitter
Emma Wingate doubled home the ninth run of the inning and Tufts led 16-3.
DiCocco came on in relief again and would retire all six Panthers she faced. Guitmann earned the win allowing five hits and three runs in her three innings.
Carroll had two hits for Middlebury. The Panthers threw four pitchers at the Jumbos in game two, with Lont taking the loss (1.1 IP, 4 H, 6R).
Next
Tufts plays its final home date of the regular-season on Wednesday against MIT with a double-header starting at 3 PM.
--JUMBOS--
