With continued strong pitching and just enough offense to scrape by, the women's softball team won three non-conference games this weekend, improving its record to 16-7. Tufts dominated Brandeis 7-1 on Saturday and swept a doubleheader against Eastern Connecticut on Sunday 2-0, 2-1 (eight innings), snapping the Warriors' eight-game winning streak.
Sunday's doubleheader at Spicer Field provided two pitcher's duels, where small ball ruled the afternoon. In game one, senior co-captain Jodie Moreau pitched a complete game shutout, striking out 11 batters, while Eastern's freshman Jennifer Ross pitched a solid game, giving up only seven hits. Tufts jumped onto the board in the bottom of the first as senior Tiffany Trahan reached third following a single and two pass balls. Junior Lis Drake brought her home with a RBI single.
Eastern Connecticut's best opportunity to score came in the top of the sixth as the Warriors loaded the bases with only one out. Junior Valerie Gasparino led off the inning with an infield single, and senior Julia Neilson's attempted sacrifice bunt turned into a base hit. Sophomore Shari D'Amico laid a bunt down to sophomore third baseman Deanna Davidian who was unable to make a play at any bag.
Moreau remained composed on the mound striking out the next batter. With two down, sophomore Kelly Rowan hit a sharp grounder to second baseman, senior co-captain Emily Ferrazza, who bobbled the ball, but tossed it to first just in time to make the out, ending the inning.
In the bottom of the inning, Moreau singled, driving in sophomore Julie Fox, and providing herself with insurance run. Tufts went on to load the bases, but the team was unable to manufacture any more runs. Moreau returned to the mound, retiring the side in order, and picked up her 11th victory of the season. In the game, Moreau and Fox had two hits apiece, while three others had one.
In the second game, Freshman Caroline Grieco squared off against D'Amico in another nail biter. The Jumbos scored first as back-to-back singles by Fox and Moreau set up junior Nikki Blotner's sacrifice fly to deep right center field. Eastern Connecticut responded in the fifth inning with a RBI single from freshman Jess Leifret.
Despite numerous scoring chances for both teams, the game went into extra innings and the International Tiebreaker Rule went into effect. The rule states that in extra innings, the batting team places a runner on second base to start each inning. A one-out single by Leifret put runners on first and third in the top of the eighth. Moreau came in to relieve Grieco, and retired the next two batters without breaking a sweat.
"There's never really anything that flusters me," Moreau said. "[Lis Drake] keeps things calm out there. Today was a really good day for me, and I hope we carry that momentum on."
"Not only did [Moreau and Grieco] pitch well, but they got out of some big jams," coach Kris Talon said. "Eastern is a good little team. They put some pressure on and we really responded with our pitching and our defense."
With the speedy Ferrazza beginning the bottom of the eighth on second base and the heart of the order due up at the plate, a Jumbo victory seemed inevitable. Senior Jen Mackey put down a perfect sacrifice bunt, sending Ferrazza to third. Senior Tiffany Trahan, who had already doubled twice in the game, hit a grounder down the first base line, sending Ferrazza charging home for the winning run.
"We didn't win by a lot, but I'll take winning by a little," Talon said. "We only gave up one run in two games so you can't ask for much more than that."
The wins were the fifth and sixth in a row against Eastern Connecticut, and they further established Tufts as a pitching powerhouse. Grieco scattered five hits over 7.1 quality innings, and Moreau picked up her second win of the afternoon (12-1) in her relief appearance. In addition Moreau reached base four times in the afternoon with two singles, a double, and a hit by pitch.
"She's a good hitter," Talon said of Moreau, "She's going up there loose and really hitting well. The season always belongs to the seniors, so it's nice to see them do well in all areas."
Against Brandeis (8-12), Tufts put seven runs on the board in the first three innings, although four of them were unearned. Moreau pitched three innings of shutout ball, before being relieved by sophomore Pam Swidler, who gave up only two hits, earning her first victory of the year. Trahan went 2-4 with two runs and an RBI, while Mackey scored twice for the Jumbos.
"We did a really good job and jumped all over them scoring seven runs in three innings," Talon said. "It was nice for Pam to pick up her first win."
Over the weekend, one of the goals for Tufts was to break out of its mid-season offensive slump. Unfortunately the goal was not accomplished as the team collectively hit only .160 (12-75) from the plate. Nevertheless, the Jumbos picked up three victories and found ways to win the games, even if it wasn't purely by offensive clout.
Tufts, currently ranked 17th in the nation will finish up its non-conference schedule with Springfield (15-13) today in an away doubleheader. Tufts has taken two of its last three over Springfield, but the Pride have already recorded wins against solid Wheaton and Bridgewater State teams this year, and should be worthy adversaries.
