Tufts softball is finally playing Tufts softball, and it picked the perfect time to do so.
After sweeping NESCAC East foes Trinity and Colby last weekend, the Jumbos increased their winning streak to seven games over the past two days. The team defeated Brandeis 5-4 on Wednesday and swept Eastern Connecticut in a doubleheader yesterday, 4-3 and 3-2, with the NESCAC playoffs next weekend.
"Things are obviously good right now, I certainly think we're playing better," coach Cheryl Milligan said. "It took a little longer to figure things out, but we've made some changes in key positions and finally have got things figured out. We're playing the way we're supposed to play, with a lot of confidence on defense."
Tufts came out in game one against the Warriors swinging the bat very well. The Jumbos scored all four of their runs in the first three innings, with junior Courtney Bongiolatti driving home two runs and senior tri-captain Deana Davidian and junior Katie Smith each bringing one home.
The offense then let sophomore pitcher Julia Brenta and the team's solid defense do the rest. Brenta worked the entire game for her fourth win of the season, allowing a run early and two more in the sixth to make things close. Brenta finished the game with six strikeouts, one walk, and three earned runs.
In game two, senior Pam Swidler took over the show and pitched a complete game for her fourth win of the season. The offense once again was able to string together hits to manufacture three runs for Tufts. Davidian drove home one, while Bongiolatti earned a bases loaded walk to bring home the game winning run in sophomore Laura Spring.
The Jumbos made it five in a row on Wednesday upon earning a 5-4 win over the Brandeis Judges in Waltham. Freshman Lauren Ebstein got the win, pitching a complete game, allowing seven hits and four runs (one earned), while striking out three and walking three.
The offense was led by senior tri-captain Deana Davidian, who has been on fire of recent at the plate. Davidian was three for five on the afternoon with one run and an RBI.
Juniors Katie Smith and Courtney Bongiolatti also tallied three hits for the Jumbos.
Tufts will have one more tune-up this weekend against NESCAC West opponent Wesleyan before the playoffs begin next Friday at the home of the West division champion Cardinals.
The Cardinals are currently in fourth place in the NESCAC West at 2-6, with no chance of making the playoffs this season.
These will be the third and fourth games of inter-league play for the Cardinals They split a series with the Trinity Bantams this past Tuesday, winning the first 8-2 while dropping the second 3-0.
The Jumbos will use the next week to prepare for the NESCAC Championship and work on pieces of the team that have been plaguing them all season.
While Tufts has had a traditionally strong offensive program, the squad has had trouble stringing hits together and getting big hits when necessary.
"We're still not hitting the way this team is capable of hitting," Milligan said. "We're not looking for good pitches, and we're lax at the plate. We need to work on an attitude change."
One strategy the Jumbos have employed and will continue to work on is their bunting. Because in recent years the squad had the most powerful bats in the conference, it never relied on the bunt.
In recent games, however, Milligan has been using the bunt more to try to get her offense rolling.
"One big positive from last weekend is that we are bunting a lot more," Milligan said. "That way, we can put a lot more pressure on defense."
The Jumbos pitching staff looks to continue its solid play over its recent games heading into the playoffs.
Milligan will use her five pitchers -- Ebstein, senior Pam Swidler, junior Caroline Greico, and sophomores Julia Brenta and Sarah Conroy -- all at least once over the next two weeks.
While Swidler is nursing a bit of an arm injury, she will still be cleared to pitch if need be.
"Nice to have a few games that aren't NESCAC games, that won't make or break our season," Milligan said. "That way we can see whose working well and who will gave a big game next weekend."
