While most students spend the week after Spring Fling cramming for exams, the women's softball team has an additional task at hand - preparing for the NESCAC playoffs. With a 7-1-0 league record, the Jumbos clinched the top seed in the NESCAC East and will host the NESCAC tournament at Spicer Field next weekend.
The Jumbos clinched the Eastern title after splitting a weekend doubleheader in Maine against Bowdoin. Tufts won the first game of the twinbill 8-0 behind the strong pitching of junior Jodie Moreau, making the second game inconsequential. Still, the Jumbos nearly managed to pull out another victory in the nightcap, before falling 6-4. A win would have given the squad an unblemished NESCAC record.
Joining the Jumbos in the tournament will be Bowdoin (second behind Tufts in the East), and Williams (6-0) and Amherst (6-2), who finished one-two, respectively, in the NESCAC West.
Only four teams in the conference qualify for the double elimination tournament, which makes its debut on Friday. Tufts will host the two seed, Amherst, and Williams will open up against Bowdoin in the other game.
Williams wrapped up the number one seed in the West after sweeping Amherst in a doubleheader on Saturday. Entering the showdown, both teams sported perfect NESCAC records. Now, Williams stands as the lone undefeated NESCAC team.
Despite the strength of all three opponents, the Jumbos are confident they will be able to put together an extended playoff run. The Jumbos have a recent history of postseason success, and are the defending NCAA New England Region champions. They took part in last year's College World Series in Salem, Virginia.
"I think pretty much the key is to stay strong," Moreau said. "We have come out strong against all of the opponents we have played. We saw Williams really early in season [a loss in the Spring Break trip which did not count towards the NESCAC standing] and I believe we have come a long way since then. We have a great chance of winning."
Tufts earned the privilege to host the first annual NESCAC tournament on the basis of its regular season NESCAC record. The tournament site will alternate on a yearly basis between the East and the West, so next year the number one squad in the West will play host.
According to Moreau, a big question for the playoffs will be how the team responds to adversity.
"I think we need to stay together even if we get down," Moreau said. "Being able to come back even if we get down is key. If we get down we need to be able to get up. When we have bats going the defense flows and we need to keep it together."
