Sara Bloom, Women's Lacrosse
Sophomore goalie Sara Bloom recorded 11 saves en route to lifting the No. 7 women's lacrosse team to a crucial win over No. 8 Middlebury on Saturday, extending the team's winning streak to six while allowing just seven goals. Bloom was also solid in the in the cage for the Jumbos during midweek victories over Wheaton, in which she also let up seven tallies, and Gordon.
In Saturday's contest against Middlebury, Bloom used five saves in the first half and six in the second to hold the Panthers to their lowest goal total of the season. Against Wheaton Thursday, Bloom saved 10 shots in the first half to record the win. In the first game of the week, Bloom stopped four shots in 20 minutes of play before being relieved by first-year Alexis Germain.
Bloom's improved play this season has been an important factor in the Jumbos' move to the top of the conference standings. The sophomore from Summit, N.J. currently boasts a .551 save percentage — a .056 point improvement over last season — which is good for second in the NESCAC. She has also recorded double-digit saves seven times this season.
David Leresche, Baseball
The baseball took three games from the Middlebury Panthers in a four-game series, aided largely in part by the clutch hitting of sophomore shortstop David Leresche. Over the course of the weekend contests, the St. Louis native tallied seven hits and reached base in 13 of his 17 plate appearances, as he literally sacrificed his body for the good of the team by earning four hit by pitches.
On Saturday in Middlebury, Vt., Leresche had three hits, scored three runs and drove in four runners in the first contest, a 16-8 Panthers win, the only victory they had on the weekend. In the third inning of the nightcap, an 8-1 Tufts triumph, Leresche led off with a hit by pitch, later scoring in the frame to add insurance to the Jumbos' lead.
Leresche's banner day came in Medford on Friday, as the sophomore reached base eight times in nine appearances, driving in five runs and scoring twice on four hits, one walk and three hit-by-pitches. Additionally, Leresche swiped three bags en route to a Tufts sweep of the visiting Panthers.
Earlier in the week in a 4-1 win at Brandeis, Leresche went 2-for-3 with a walk and stolen base.
In 23 games thus far, Leresche leads the Jumbos in nearly every offensive category, most notably batting average (.375), runs (15), hits (27), doubles (8), RBI (20), slugging percentage (.569), stolen bases (6) and on-base percentage (.511). He also leads the NESCAC in hit-by-pitches with 12.
