MEDFORD, MA (April 28, 2026) – The Jumbos scored twice in the bottom of the sixth inning to earn a victory in the second game as local rivals Tufts University and MIT split a softball doubleheader at Spicer Field on Tuesday afternoon.

In a meeting between two teams who are among New England's best once again this spring, visiting MIT took a 6-3 win in the opener before the Jumbos rebounded with a 6-4 victory in the nightcap.

Tufts is now 26-8 overall, while MIT moved to 27-7.

Game 1 – MIT 6, Tufts 3

First-year Emily Watson went the distance in the circle and the visiting Engineers scored four times in the third inning to take the opener.

MIT had grabbed a 1-0 lead after two were out in the top of the first. Ari Kumar singled, took second on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Lauren Sundquist. However, the Jumbos answered in the bottom of the first frame as Lauryn Horita led off with a single and scored on Kaitlyn Perucci's fourth home run of the season making it 2-1 Tufts.

The Engineers started their decisive third inning with an infield single from Delaney Benevides. After moving to second on a walk, she came around on a base hit from Ava Ladd. Holland Poe then smacked a three-run home run to right field and the visitors led 5-2.

Tufts added a run in the fifth as Perucci hit an rbi single. However, Watson got a ground ball out to strand the bases loaded and keep the score at 5-3.

Tufts would get the tying run on base in the both the sixth and seventh, but Watson prevented them from scoring and improved to 9-1 on the season. She gave up 10 hits, no walks and three runs.

MIT had added a run in the top of the seventh as Julia Mattiace tripled off the foul line in right to score Poe, who had hit a one-out single.

Poe led MIT in game one, going 3 for 4 with three runs batted in and two scored. Ladd and Maggie Feng each had two hits for the Engineers.

Horita was 2 for 4 with two runs at the top of the Tufts order, while Perucci finished 2 for 4 with three rbis and a run. Heaven Oliva had two hits. Avery Kanouse was the losing pitcher (2.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R).

Game 2 – Tufts 6, MIT 4

The Jumbos opened up a 4-0 lead with one run in the first inning and three more in the second. Oliva hit her 12th home run of the season in the first frame, then Horita delivered a two-run double to highlight the second. Paige Murphy also had an rbi single.

After Tufts starter Sarah Brody retired the first six hitters she faced, the Engineers would strike for two runs in the third. Back-to-back doubles by Liv Scarpaci and Feng scored one, then another run scored on a Tufts error making it 4-2 before MIT had made an out. However, Brody bore down and finished the inning with three strikeouts to leave the bases loaded.

However, the Engineers would tie the score with two runs in the top of the fifth. Tufts made three errors in the frame, allowing both runs to score.

MIT's Sharona Hwang pitched three shutout innings before the Jumbos would get the eventual game-winning runs in the bottom of the sixth. Leimbach and Ella McHugh had singles, then with one down MIT wasn't able to get an out on a ground ball. Oliva singled home Leimbach and McHugh scored on Murphy's fielder's choice giving Tufts a 6-4 lead.

Brody pitched a 1-2-3 seventh to finish off the victory. She allowed six hits and just one earned run in her complete game.

Oliva, Murphy, Leimbach and McHugh all had two hits for Tufts in game two. Oliva and Murphy knocked in two runs, and Leimbach and McHugh both scored twice.

Huang was solid for MIT (4 IP, 5 H, 1 ER), but earned the loss. Feng and Benevides both had two hits for the Engineers.

Next

Tufts starts the last weekend of the regular season by traveling to Hamilton College for a NESCAC doubleheader on Saturday.