The softball team breathed a sigh of relief after Monday's 7-2, 9-6 doubleheader sweep of Bridgewater State yesterday afternoon.
Pounding out 23 hits and 16 runs, Tufts looked more like the team that compiled an 8-4 record on its West Coast swing in March. After a three-game skid that had the Jumbos wondering whether they were, in fact, donning the Tufts brown and blue, they finally came out swinging yesterday.
The squad jumped ahead in the third inning of game one and never looked back, taking advantage of nine Bears' fielding miscues and reminding its opposition it is perennially considered one of the region's best teams.
Bolstered by a complete game two-run performance from senior tri-captain Lauren Ebstein in game one, Tufts built a four-run lead in the fourth on four base hits and three inopportune Bridgewater State errors; the team committed two other errors in the game, all combining for a whopping five unearned runs.
The Jumbo offense started right where it left off, jumping out to a three-run advantage in game two incited, once again, by a Bears fielding error that allowed sophomore leadoff hitter Sam Kuhles to reach base, ultimately opening up the floodgates.
Bridgewater State did not roll over quite as easily, however, lashing back with three runs in the second to pull within one. But it was mostly smooth sailing from there, as the Jumbos easily recorded their 11th and 12th victories of the season.
There will be no rest for the weary: Tufts has another doubleheader at Babson starting at 2:30 p.m. today, before hosting Bowdoin in a three-game series this weekend.
-by Rachel Dolin
