COLUMBUS, Ga. (March 1, 2025) – The Tufts University softball team took a pair of five-inning losses against the top two teams in the country on Saturday at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.
The Jumbos lost 12-4 to defending national champion and #1 in the nation East Texas Baptist University to start the day. A 10-2 defeat to #2 Linfield University followed.
Tufts is now 1-3 heading into the final day of the tournament on Sunday. They will face two more strong opponents in seventh-ranked Case Western Reserve University and #10 Trine University.
East Texas Baptist 12, Tufts 4
The Jumbos started the day strong by scoring three times in the top of the first inning. The first three batters all reached base, including a single by
Cat Kawabe in the lead-off spot.
Keriann Slayton brought her in with a ground out and
Haley Leimbach hit a two-run double to make it 3-0 Jumbos.
After tying the game with one in the first and two in the second, the Tigers broke it open with six runs in the third to lead 9-3. They had three hits and four walks against Jumbo pitching, including a two-run single from Tristen Maddox to cap the frame.
A two-run double by Tiger Mallory Pyle brought the score to 11-3 in the bottom of the fourth.
Tufts added a fourth run in the top of the fifth when
Heaven Oliva singled and pinch-runner
Emma Tonies scored on a base hit by Leimbach (2 for 3, 3 rbis). However, the Tigers would end the game on an rbi single by Tauryn Cummings in the bottom of the fifth.
Maddox and Cummings both had three hits for the Tigers, who finished with 12. Madalyn Melton seized the pitching win allowing seven hits and the four runs in a complete game.
Fallon O'Connor started in the circle and took the loss for Tufts (2.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER).
Linfield 10, Tufts 2
Down 2-0 heading into the bottom of the second, the Jumbos cut the lead in half as Leimbach walked and scored on a single by
Sarah Cullen.
However, again a big inning by the opponent would hurt the Jumbos. Linfield scored eight times in the third inning including two-run singles by Jacey Leyvas and Kaili Saathoff and a two-run home run from by Claire Seats.
Tufts' other run came in the fourth when Tonies reached by fielder's choice and came all the way around to score on a double to left-center by Cullen.
The Jumbos were paced by Cullen (2 for 2, 2 rbis) and two hits each by Slayton and
Bela Jimenez. Saathoff (2 for 4, 3 rbis), Seats (2 for 4, 2 runs, 2 rbis) and Ashlyn Aven's three hits led the Wildcats.
Lacey Vasas earned the win for Linfield, going the five innings allowing seven hits and two runs.
Sophia DiCocco surrendered seven hits and five runs in two innings to take the loss for Tufts.
--JUMBOS--
