MARSHALL, TX (May 31, 2024) –
Rachel Moore drove home two runs and pitchers
Sky Johnson and
Sophia DiCocco limited Virginia Wesleyan University to five hits as the Tufts University softball team stayed alive in the DIII College World Series with a 5-1 victory over the Marlins on Friday.
With the win in today's Game 6 elimination contest, the Jumbos improve to 39-9 overall. They will play next in Game 9 of the tournament on Saturday at 11 AM against the loser of Friday night's East Texas Baptist University versus Belhaven University game. Virginia Wesleyan's season ended at 40-10.
Tufts had 10 hits in today's game and got started in the top of the second.
Michelle Adelman was hit by a pitch to get on, then switched places with
Keila McCabe who grounded into a fielder's choice. Moore followed by hitting a ball to deep left field which bounced off top of the wall for a double scoring McCabe.
Keriann Slayton then singled up the middle with Marlin shortstop Karley Beltran diving for the ball and having it glance off her glove. Moore came around to score and Tufts had an early 2-0 lead.
VWU got one back in the bottom of the third. Beltran drew a lead-off walk and advanced to third on a ground out and a single by Sarah Prosser. Beltran scored on a grounder to second by Laci Campbell cutting Tufts' lead to 2-1.
In the top of the fourth, Moore's second rbi was of the opposite variety from her first.
Kaitlyn Perucci had singled to lead off the frame, was sacrificed to second by Adelman and went to third on a grounder to short from McCabe. Moore then hit a slow ground ball to third and beat out the throw while Perucci scored for a 3-1 Tufts margin.
The Marlins had a pair of singles in the bottom of the fourth against Johnson by Olivia Knight and Joslyn Woodard, and the Jumbos went to the bullpen for
Sophia DiCocco. Tufts'
Bela Jimenez saved a run with a great play at second, sliding to field the ball and then flipping a side-handed toss to first for the out. That sent runners to second and third, but DiCocco got the third out on another grounder to Jimenez. She had 10 assists in the game.
The Jumbos continued to add runs in the fifth.
Haley Leimbach singled to second base, then was pinch-ran for by
Sarah Cullen.
Josie Steinberg roped one over the head of the center fielder for a double with Cullen scoring. Perucci then delivered her second hit of the day, a run-scoring single that put Tufts up 5-1.
Tufts surged offensively again in the sixth, but would leave the bases loaded. With two outs
Heaven Oliva had a pinch-hit single and both Leimbach and Steinberg had singles.
DiCocco finished off the Marlins with 3.2 innings allowing one hit, two walks and no runs. She was credited with the victory, improving to 18-5. Johnson went 3.1 innings in her start giving up four hits and one run.
Moore finished 2 for 3 with two rbis and a run, while Steinberg, Perucci and Leimbach also had two hits for the Jumbos.
Mackenzie Myers and Woodard each had a hit and a walk for Virginia Wesleyan. Emma Adams was the losing pitcher, allowing 10 hits and five runs in her seven innings.
The win is the first for Tufts at the NCAA Finals since 2015, the year that the Jumbos won their third straight NCAA Championship.
Watch the Tufts Press Conference ...
--JUMBOS--
