The Jumbos got just what they needed this weekend - and then some.
Having secured the NESCAC East regular season crown, the women's softball team was just looking to continue its winning ways in an effort to gain momentum heading into this weekend's NESCAC tournament.
After Friday's game was postponed due to inclement weather, Tufts and Colby squared off in a Saturday tripleheader. But it seemed as if only one team showed up to play.
Propelled by offensive fireworks and a no-hitter from sophomore Lauren Gelmetti, the Jumbos outscored the Mules 23-2, winning 8-0, 5-1, 10-1.
"It feels really good," junior Heather Kleinberger said of the win. "Colby isn't as strong as our other competitors, but run-ruling them in two games was great."
In the third game of the series, senior tri-captain Lauren Ebstein led the Jumbos to a 10-1 victory over the Mules. Pitching five innings of one-run ball, Ebstein improved her record to 5-1 on the season and lowered her ERA to 2.62.
"Our pitching has really improved since the beginning of the season," Kleinberger said.
Sophomore Maya Ripecky spearheaded the offensive effort with a pair of home runs: a three-run homer in the first inning and a solo shot in the third, doubling her season's total. Freshman Casey Sullivan led off the fourth inning with a solo shot, her ninth of the season and her 42nd RBI.
Sullivan currently leads the team in both categories, followed by Ripecky with four home runs and freshman Christy Tinker with 27 RBI. The Ripecky-Sullivan duo was in full force in Saturday's third game, contributing six RBI in the 10-1 victory.
"I was feeling pretty good," Ripecky said. "I try and do what I can."
In game two, freshman Stefanie Tong pitched all seven innings, allowing one run on three hits. After surrendering a pair of singles in the second inning, Tong did not allow another hit until the sixth. By that time, the Jumbos had all but secured their victory.
After a lackluster first three innings, in which the Jumbos scratched out only one hit, their offense exploded in innings four and five. Kleinberger's two-run single in the fourth handed the Jumbos a 2-1 lead that they never relinquished. Sophomore Samantha Kuhles, Ripecky and junior Erica Bailey then each contributed an RBI to lift the Jumbos to a 5-1 victory over the Mules.
"Everyone did what they needed to do," Kleinberger said. "We played really well overall."
Gelmetti turned in the series' most impressive individual performance, throwing the opening game against the Mules. She was perfect through four innings, but a Sullivan error allowed Mule senior Essie Widlanski to reach base safely - the game's only baserunner. Gelmetti's complete game not-hit performance was the first of her career.
"It was exciting," Gelmetti said. "I was just trying to hit my spots and vary my speeds."
"It really energized us," Ripecky said. "We're not used to playing three-straight games, and her strong performance helped us get through them."
As usual, coach Cheryl Milligan's offense took over. Sullivan's two-run home run in the first gave the Jumbos a 2-0 lead. Sullivan and Kleinberger then doubled in the third and fourth innings, respectively, each driving in a run in the 8-0 win over the Mules.
The three-game sweep of the Mules was just the icing on the cake for a team that ran away with the regular season division crown.
The Jumbos will host the league's postseason tournament, featuring league rivals Williams and Wesleyan in addition to the East's top two squads, Tufts and Trinity.
"It's really nice to host the tournament on our own field," Kleinberger said. "But it doesn't ultimately matter. You still have to beat the same teams that you have to beat, no matter where you play."
With their 11-1 league finish, the Jumbos are certainly favorites to take home a title.
"I think that we've got everything that we need to go far and do well in the tournament," Gelmetti said. "We're definitely capable of winning it all."
"We have a lot of good players this season, offensively and defensively," Ripecky added. "I think [the playoffs] will be hard, but I think that we can come out on top if we bring our A-game."
