The softball team clinched the NESCAC East title with a doubleheader sweep over the Bates Bobcats on Saturday in Maine. Tufts started the afternoon off with an 8-0 win before picking up a 5-2 victory in the backend of the twinbill. The wins were the seventh consecutive victories for the Jumbos as they improved their unblemished NESCAC record to 6-0 and 20-7 overall.
"We had no idea about Bates record, if they were good, we had no clue," junior catcher Lis Drake said. "That is usually the way we go into the games. We just worry about playing our game and getting it done. We definitely do not worry that much about the other teams."
Senior co-captain Jodie Moreau once again led the way for Tufts, pitching the opener of the doubleheader. Moreau rebounded nicely from last weekend's uncharacteristic outing when Trinity tagged her for four earned runs and ten hits over eight innings.
On Saturday, Moreau was once again her dominant self as she threw four impressive innings before coach Kris Talon gave freshman Pam Swidler the chance to pitch the fifth and final inning of the contest. Despite coming out early, Moureau still picked up her 14th win of the season and currently stands only two victories from the all time Tufts record of 54, set by Michelle Lima in 1997. The duo of Moreau and Swindler did not let a runner get past second base for the entire game.
"Jodie did a good job despite the fact that they were standing all the way back in the batters box," Drake said. "She still did awesome."
Senior first baseman Tiffany Trahan - the second leading homerun hitter in Tufts history - provided the offensive spark in the opener, drilling her fifth homerun of the season.
In the second game, Swidler got a surprising start on the mound and justified her coach's confidence in her by tossing five strong innings and surrendering only two runs. Freshman Caroline Grieco, Tufts normal number-two starter, came in to close the game in sixth and notched the first save of her collegiate career.
"I think [coach gave her the start] because she is still young and needs to get all the experience she can get it," Drake said of Swidler. "And to prove it to herself and to us that she can get the job done. She needs to get some experience and she is working hard and she has a great attitude."
Despite the alteration of the normal pitching lineup, Drake stressed that the team is confident when any of its pitchers take the mound. "I guess Caroline has been pitching the second game, but we feel pretty confident with anyone going out there because we have pretty solid defense with any of the pitchers," she said. "This year has been more predictable than usual [in terms of who is going to pitch], but usually we don't know who is going to be pitching. This year has been more consistent and predictable but I think it was kind of assumed that Pam would keep going [on Saturday]."
Offensively, Drake had the big hit in game two, slamming her team-leading seventh homer of the year and extended her career Tufts mark to 22. With one more homerun, Drake will tie Tufts single season homer mark of eight, a record which she set last season.
Senior shortstop Jen Mackey demonstrated why she has been the team's best hitter throughout the season as she put together yet another startling offensive display. Going into the games against Bates, Mackey was batting a NESCAC-leading .507 for the season. Amazingly, Mackey managed to raise her batting average to .525 after a weekend where she went 5-7. The shortstop also scored three runs and collected three doubles and one RBI in the doubleheader.
Entering the weekend, Amherst was the only other NESCAC team with an undefeated record, but the Lord Jeffs split a doubleheader with Trinity, and currently stand at 15-9, 7-1. Leading the NESCAC West, Amherst will play Tufts at 3:30 this afternoon, in what could be a preview of the NESCAC championship.
