Home was not quite so sweet to the Jumbos this weekend.
After compiling a more than respectable clip against some of the nation's best on its West Coast swing, Tufts was caught a little off-balance in its first series at Spicer Field this season, beating NESCAC rival Bates 8-1 on Friday, but losing 4-1 in Saturday's first game, before emerging with an 11-0 victory later in the day.
Although it did win two out of three games, the squad was not satisfied with the outcome, especially against a team it played to mercy-rule victories in both games of a double-header last year, 11-1, 9-1.
"We have to be disappointed, especially with the way we came out in the first game [Saturday]," junior Heather Kleinberger said. "We did not come out like we should. It was like we didn't even show up to play. We saw the pitcher [Friday], didn't do well, but did what we needed to do to win. We saw her [Saturday] and we did not do what we needed to do."
That pitcher was Bates senior Kristin Masino, who threw in all three games, recording a complete game in the series' first two match-ups, and relieving sophomore Christina Knobel in the third, after Knobel surrendered five runs in an inning and a third. Tired, though understandably so, Masino was not able to put out the fire in game three, also surrendering five earned runs in one and a third innings.
For a team with a .370 average through the first 15 games of the season, encountering any kind of road block on the offensive end is a bit startling.
"It's surprising that our bats didn't come through," coach Cheryl Milligan said. "I'll take this group's chances of hitting against anyone three times through the lineup. I like our chances if we can see the ball a few times, but [Saturday] that wasn't to be."
Having faced-off against some fire-throwing hurlers in California, coach Milligan's squad looked hesitant and off-balanced against Masino in the first two games, as the players were unable to keep their weight back and drive the ball through the holes, hitting slow grounders instead of sharp line drives.
"She was definitely not as fast as a lot of pitchers we saw out in California," junior tri-captain Megan Cusick said. "So I think that it was a little bit of an adjustment, but something we should have overcome Friday when we saw her the first time, and shouldn't have carried over on Saturday."
"Good hitters need to make the adjustment," Kleinberger said. "Every pitch in every game is going to be different. You might see someone fast; you might see someone with movement, someone slow. Good hitters - which is what our team is full of - need to make the adjustment, and we didn't make them the second game when we needed to."
In addition to the slower speed, Masino was stingy with her pitches, continually working the outside corner - something no softball player is ever happy to see.
Milligan's squad was happy to see a different face on the mound in game three, however. Eventually finding its groove, Tufts looked more like the offensive powerhouse that posted ostentatious numbers in California. Scoring 11 runs in two and two-thirds, the Jumbos ensured themselves a series victory, ultimately walking away with a mercy-rule win. It took three games, but Tufts finally adjusted to the Bobcats' style of play.
Cushioned by a three-hitter from junior Erica Bailey in Friday's game, the team did not look too impressive at the plate, but utilized some small-ball to generate enough offense to pull away with a win.
But in Saturday's first game, Bates neutralized the Jumbos, bringing the third baseman in and closer to the line, which in turn stymied part of Tufts' running game. Recording only a total of three hits, the Jumbos were unable to adjust.
"How we ended up on top in [Friday's] game was we bunted them to death and they threw the ball around a bit," Milligan said. "And then we finally got a little more relaxed at the plate and got some hits. But they really took that away in game two and three with the third baseman down the line. We didn't get down as many bunts as we wanted, and the bunts we did get down didn't work as well."
But Tufts' pitching was certainly firing on all cylinders in the series, allowing five runs in three games, with Bailey, and sophomore Lauren Gelmetti combining for two complete games in the series' first two, while freshman Stefanie Tong and senior tri-captain Lauren Ebstein both toed the rubber in the third, showing that the Jumbos' versatility extends beyond the lineup.
Having righted the ship in its final game on Saturday, the team hopes to establish momentum heading into today's match-up with Wellesley - a team it beat 1-0 in nine innings last year.
And while the group is hoping to hit its stride as the midway point in the season quickly approaches, there is clearly still more work to be done.
"This team still has a lot to do," Milligan said. "That win's not going to kill us; it's certainly not going to help us. But this is a talented team and I think we're going to get somewhere. We still have a lot of work to do. What impresses me most about this group is that they are willing to put in that work, and when we ask for things they get done."
