MEDFORD, MA (May 16, 2024) – Trailing halfway through the game, the Tufts University softball team scored six times in the bottom of the fifth and took an 8-4 victory over Western New England University in Game 1 of the NCAA Regional at Spicer Field on Thursday.
The Jumbos (33-7) advance in the winner's bracket to Game 3 of the Regional on Friday against the University of Rochester at 11:00 AM. The Yellowjackets (31-7) won 6-2 against the St. John Fisher University in Game 2 of the Regional on Thursday. Western New England (27-14) will face St. John Fisher in an elimination Game 4 at 1:30 on Friday.
The #4 seed Western New England led #1 seed Tufts 4-2 in the top of the fourth today. The game had been tied 2-2 when Madison Mason led off for WNE with a single and then Alex Ferriouolo doubled down the left-field line. Lizzie Weston hit a sac fly for one run, and then Shea McDaniel bunted for a single bringing in the other.
However, the Jumbos would explode in the fifth.
Josie Steinberg, who went 4 for 4 in the game, led off with a single and scored on
Lauryn Horita's ninth home run of the season that tied the game at 4-4. The Jumbos would have six straight hits before the Golden Bears recorded an out, with
Kaitlyn Perucci,
Rachel Moore,
Heaven Oliva and
Bela Jimenez following with singles. Three runs scored on Jimenez's single to right which was misplayed.
The Jumbos had led 2-0 after Moore delivered a pair of runs in the bottom of the first with a single to center. Steinberg had singled and Horita was hit by pitch to get on base and score.
The Golden Bears would tie the score with two in the top of the third though. Marley Rodriguez got it started with a lead-off single. After a sacrifice, Kaleigh Blades singled and then a ground out from Taylor Keegan scored Rodriguez. Blades scored on a Tufts error.
Jumbo junior
Sky Johnson came on in relief of senior starter
Sophia DiCocco and earned the victory with four innings giving up two hits and no runs. Jimenez went 3 for 3 and both Perucci and Moore were 2 for 4 for Tufts. Steinberg and Horita both scored twice.
WNE junior starter Ava Blanchard did a nice job keeping Tufts from scoring from the second through fourth frames, but would absorb the loss allowing 10 hits and six runs in her four innings. Rodriguez went 2 for 3 for Western New England. Blades had a single, a walk and scored a run.
Watch the Tufts Post-Game Interview ...
--JUMBOS--
