Balloons, banners, and senior day decorations adorned the edges of Spicer Field for yesterday afternoon's softball game against the Brandeis Judges. But it was two Tufts seniors that provided the most fitting decorations for the softball team. Randee McArdle launched a solo home run in the second inning, and Rachel Brecher flung six innings of four-hit, shutout ball as the Jumbos blanked the Brandeis Judges 6-0.
The win upped the Tufts' overall record to 22-8-1 and dropped Brandeis to 12-13. The game was a non-conference tilt, so its importance in terms of the playoffs was negligible. But it was senior day, and the fourth-years stepped up to the plate. "It was definitely not just another game," Brecher said.
"It was an awesome senior day," coach Kris Talon said. "We always have interesting games with Brandeis. It was a school day, and sometimes that's hard, but our intensity was great."
McArdle stepped up to the plate first, belting a home run to right field with nobody out in the second inning. The homer off Brandeis freshman starter Leigh Warren gave Tufts a lead that it would never relinquish.
It was all that Brecher needed for the win. The senior threw six solid innings, painting the outside corner of the plate like it was one of the several banners bearing her name, earning in the process her eighth win of the season.
The defense behind (and in front of) Brecher was strong as well. In the third inning, sophomore Lis Drake made a diving catch on a bunt that was popped up near the plate, and in the fifth inning, junior shortstop Jen Mackey ranged to her right to make a nice backhand stop, and gunned down the Brandeis base runner at first. And sophomore right-fielder Nikki Blotner recorded a rare 9-3 assist when she threw out a Brandeis runner at first base in the sixth.
But Brandeis was still in the game until the bottom of the fourth inning when Brecher herself extended the Tufts lead. Drake led off with a single to right, McArdle walked, and freshman Deana Davidian singled up the middle to load the bases. Freshman Julie Fox grounded to second, but Brandeis freshman second baseman Emily Watterworth bobbled the grounder before throwing out Fox, allowing Drake to score. Brecher stepped up and slashed a double over the head of the Brandeis centerfielder, plating two runs and giving herself a 4-0 cushion to work with.
The Jumbos were not done with the fourth inning yet. Blotner walked, and after advancing to second on a passed ball, was driven in by junior Emily Ferrazza who laced a screaming double to left center.
McArdle extended the lead to 6-0 in the fifth with a double of her own. The outfielder was 2-2 with two RBIs in what was possibly the final home game of her career.
Whether or not McArdle and Brecher play another home game will depend on how well the team does in its two-game showdown at Bowdoin on Saturday. If Bowdoin swept its doubleheader with Colby yesterday afternoon, this weekend could feature two undefeated teams facing off for the NESCAC East title and home field advantage throughout the NESCAC playoffs. A sweep of the Polar Bears, or a split of the doubleheader would give Tufts the title and the home field, but the team has other reasons for wanting to earn the sweep.
Last season, the Jumbos suffered a humiliating 10-0 loss at the hands of the team from Brunswick. Bowdoin scored 10 runs in four and two-thirds off Brecher, invoking the mercy rule after only four plus innings.
"Bowdoin is in our sights," Talon said. "We're really looking forward to it. We've got to go back and make a statement. We don't just want a split. We know we are the better team, we just have to go out and prove it."
"We are planning on sweeping them," Brecher said. "After last year, we have something to prove."
