Softball Earns Exciting Pair of Wins Against Wesleyan in Sunday Double-header

MEDFORD, MA (April 6, 2025) - Lauryn Horita hit two huge home runs in Game 1 as Tufts came back for a 9-8 win in eight innings, then Fallon O'Connor, Bela Jimenez, Lindsay Neumann and Keriann Slayton led Tufts to a 9-1 win in five innings in Game 2 for a Jumbo sweep of a NESCAC softball double-header against Wesleyan University today at Spicer Field.

The Jumbos move out to 6-0 in the conference and even their overall mark at 10-10 with a now six-game winning streak. Wesleyan, one of the top teams early in NESCAC play, dropped to 5-3 in the conference and 15-5 overall.

Game 1 - Tufts 9, Wesleyan 8 (8 inn.)

The first game was the best win of the year so far for the Jumbos. Trailing 7-0 through four innings, they came all the way back to tie the score at 7-7 in the bottom of the seventh and then won it on Horita's two-run home run in the eighth.

Heaven Oliva had started the comeback with a solo home run - her seventh of the season - in the bottom of the fifth making it 7-1. 

Tufts then scored five times in the bottom of the sixth to pull within 7-6. Cat Kawabe started the rally with a one-out single and then scored on a triple from Bela Jimenez. An infield single by Kaitlyn Perucci scored Jimenez and it was 7-3. After Keriann Slayton was hit by a pitch, Horita homered to right scoring three and pulling the Jumbos within 7-6.

Sophia DiCocco pitched a 1-2-3 top of the seventh to keep the game at 7-6. In the bottom of the seventh, Jumbos Lindsay Neumann and Kawabe singled with one out. Both advanced a base on a wild pitch and Jimenez singled down the left-field line scoring Neumann to tie the game at 7-7. Wesleyan reliever Isabella Secaira-Cotto recorded the final two outs to send the game to extras.

The Cardinals responded by scoring in their eighth, led off by a double from Jordynn Killion. After pinch-runner Bella Tassone moved to third on a ground ball, Lizzie Marino singled through the right side for the go-ahead run. Another double by Molly Lennon put Cardinals on second and third, but Tufts turned a clutch double play. Shortstop Haley Leimbach fired to Perucci at first for one out, then Perucci turned and threw home to cut down Marino trying to score.

In Tufts' eighth, Oliva led off with a double and then Horita homered to center for the walk-off win.

Wesleyan had taken its 7-0 lead with five runs in the second inning and single runs in the third and fourth. Lennon's bases-loaded triple highlighted the second, while Rebecca Cassel-Siskind added an rbi single and Cat Palmer doubled home a run. Singles by Waverly Smart and Nicole Celi produced the third-inning run, and a walk to Palmer and a double by Abby Orso made the lead 7-0 in the fourth.

Horita finished 2 for 4 with the two home runs and five rbis. Jimenez (2 for 4, 2 rbis, run), Oliva (2 for 4, run, rbi) and Kawabe (two hits) also sparked Tufts. DiCocco persevered and went the distance, not allowing a run from the fifth through seventh innings while Tufts came back to tie the game. She finished eight innings giving up 13 hits and three earned runs.
 
Lennon was 2 for 5 with three rbis and a run to lead Wesleyan's 13-hit attack in Game 1. Secaira-Cotto, who took the pitching loss by allowing Horita's walk-off home run, had two hits along with Orso and Smart. Orso, who entered today with a 0.46 ERA, started in the circle and went 6.1 innings allowing eight hits and seven runs.

Game 2 - Tufts 9, Wesleyan 1 (5 inn.)

In the second game the Jumbos became the first team this season to defeat Wesleyan first-year pitcher Jacelyn Lees, who entered with a 0.77 ERA. Tufts strung together two runs in the third inning, four in the fourth and then three in the fifth to end the game by the eight-run rule.

Meanwhile, Fallon O'Connor had one of her best outings of the season in the pitcher's circle for Tufts. After allowing a unearned run in the first inning, she shut down the Cardinals from there. O'Connor allowed five hits and did not walk a batter in the five innings.

Wesleyan had gone out on top in the first inning with a run on a Tufts error and a double by Cassel-Siskind.

After Lees retired six of Tufts' first seven batters, it was all Jumbos from there. Neumann got it started by leading off the third inning with a home run. Back-to-back doubles by Perucci and Slayton then gave Tufts the lead (2-1).

In the top of the fourth Wesleyan put two runners on with one out on base hits by Lees and Smart. O'Connor struck out the next two batters to end the threat though. 

Tufts then built its margin to 6-1 in the fourth. Horita had an infield single and then Leimbach doubled. Neumann picked up another rbi with a fielder's choice, then Jimenez soon allowed with a two-run single up the middle. That forced Wesleyan to go to the bullpen, and back-to-back singles by Perucci and Slayton (rbi) greeted reliever Kelly Baker as Tufts took a five-run advantage.

The Jumbos would end it in the fifth on consecutive doubles by Kawabe and Neumann to score a run, a single by Sarah Cullen and then a two-run double by Jimenez which put Tufts up 9-1.

Neumann was a key part of the offense at 2 for 3 with three rbis and three runs. Tufts also got great production from the top three spots in its batting order as Jimenez was 2 for 4 with four rbis and a run, Perucci finished 3 for 3 with a run and Slayton went 2 for 3 with two rbi.

Cassel-Siskind had two of Wesleyan's five hits. Lees took her first loss of the season giving up seven hits and six runs in 3.2 innings.

Next

The Jumbos hit the road next weekend for NESCAC double-headers at Middlebury College on Saturday and at Williams College on Sunday.