The softball team is making it look easy.
Nationally ranked No. 8 Tufts upped its unbeaten mark to 18-0 yesterday, needing just five innings to record a 14-0 thrashing of non-conference Bridgewater State in Bridgewater, Mass. The victory was the Jumbos' fifth mercy-rule win in their last six games since returning from a trip to California over spring break.
The game was the only contest in the scheduled doubleheader played to completion, as the nightcap was postponed due to rain.
Appearing in a game for the first time since March 20, senior quad-captain Samantha Kuhles powered the Jumbos offensively, going 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI. On the mound, senior pitcher Lauren Gelmetti limited the Bears to two hits and three walks en route to her eighth victory of the season.
Tufts blew the game open in the fourth inning, sending 13 runners to the plate and scoring nine runs on eight hits against Bridgewater senior tri-captain Alyssa Verronneau. Kuhles had a three-run home run to left field with no outs in the inning to give the Jumbos a 6-0 lead.
All but one Tufts starter finished with at least one hit, with junior shortstop Casey Sullivan's 3-for-3 effort leading the way. Senior second baseman Danielle Lopez and senior quad-captain Laura Chapman also posted multi-hit games for the Jumbos.
Tufts will put its undefeated mark on the weekend, when it plays a difficult stretch of five games in three days. Today, the Jumbos will head to Hartford, Conn. to begin a three-game series against NESCAC East rival Trinity. Tufts will return home on Sunday for a doubleheader against out-of-conference foes Wheaton and Western Conn.
