NEWPORT NEWS, VA (March 22, 2025) – The Tufts University softball team finished its spring break trip with a double-header at #3 Christopher Newport University on Saturday and were swept by the Captains 8-3 and 6-0.
The Jumbos (4-10) return home and will start their NESCAC schedule next weekend with double-headers at Spicer Field against Bowdoin College on Saturday and Amherst College on Sunday.
Game 1 - Christopher Newport 8, Tufts 3
Tufts'
Heaven Oliva blasted a three-run home run with two outs in the top of the third to put Tufts up 3-1. The shot was her fifth of the season.
CNU (19-1) had taken a 1-0 advantage in the second when Kendall Bentley singled, stole second and scored on a base hit by Natalie Quinlan. The Captains then put three on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third to take the lead 4-3. A two-run single by Meredith Brickner was the key hit.
Captains pitcher Jamie Martin would allow just two Tufts hits from the fourth inning through the seventh. She would improve to 8-1 on the year giving up seven hits and three runs in a complete game.
Meanwhile, CNU added two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. Sammy Drew doubled home a run and then stole home as part of a double-steal in th fifth. Then with two out in the seventh, a double by Candace Slaw and consecutive singles from Brooke Greaver (rbi), Brickner and Drew (rbi) plated the final two runs.
Sophia DiCocco took the loss for Tufts.
Keriann Slayton had two of the Jumbos' seven hits.
Drew (3 for 4, 2 rbis, run), Brickner (2 for 3, 2 rbis), Bentley (2 for 3, run, rbi) and Quinlan (2 for 3, rbi) led the Captains' 14-hit attack.
Game 2 - Christopher Newport 6, Tufts 0
CNU's Kate Alger and Hailey Butler combined on a two-hit shutout in the night cap. Tufts'
Bela Jimenez led off the game with a bunt single and Olive tripled with two outs in the fourth.
The Captains got on the scoreboard against Tufts starter
Fallon O'Connor in the second. Mackenzie Sowonik had a two-out infield single and came all the way around to score on a double to center field by Oliva Tullous.
A two-run double by Bentley highlighted a three-run third inning for CNU. Brickner had an rbi base hit and scored in the frame as well.
In the fifth, a two-run single by Tullous made it 6-0 Captains. That scored Bentley and Quinlan, who hit back-to-back singles after two were out.
Alger earned the pitching victory with five scoreless innings allowing two hits. Butler finished the game with two no-hit innings. Tullous finished Game 2 with a pair of hits, two rbis and a run. Bentley went 2 for 3 with two ribs and a run, while Greaver posted two hits. The Captains had 11 hits in the contest.
Oliva was on base twice for Tufts with the triple and a walk. O'Connor took the pitching loss for the Jumbos.
Lacy Chilek had a good relief outing allowing one hit and no runs with three K's in 1.1 innings.
--JUMBOS--
