With the 2010-11 season winding down, the softball team is trying to make a late push in the NESCAC East standings. In a season marked by inconsistency, the Jumbos took a step toward this goal at home on Friday, when they swept a woeful Colby squad 6-0 and 4-0 on the strength of two fantastic pitching performances.
Both teams came into the weekend struggling. The Jumbos had lost five of their previous eight contests, including two against Bowdoin, a conference opponent. For Colby, the woes have been persistent from the first game of the season. The Mules entered Friday's contest at 8-14 overall. Colby had yet to win a game against a NESCAC opponent, posting an abysmal 0-6 mark against those teams. Simply put, it was a series the Jumbos knew they needed to have.
"It's so competitive in the NESCAC now that the season is winding down," junior co-captain first baseman Lena Cantone, who is leading the team in batting with a .485 average, said. "We just know that we have to record a ‘W' every game moving forward."
Game one of Friday's doubleheader featured a matchup between Tufts sophomore starter Rebecca DiBiase and Colby starter Aimee Polimeno. For a while, the contest had all the makings of a pitcher's duel, as both girls looked in top form. Fortunately for the Jumbos, Polimeno blinked first, surrendering four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. The frame was highlighted by a two-run double by freshman third baseman Kayla Holland that gave the Jumbos a 3-0 cushion.
The Jumbos tacked on two more insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend their advantage to 6-0. Pitching, however, was the story of the game. DiBiase tossed an impressive five innings, in which she allowed only two hits and recorded five strikeouts, before sophomore Aly Moskowitz closed the door on the Mules, giving up just one hit in her two innings of relief.
DiBiase, who took the victory, improved to 4-7 on the year. Meanwhile, Polimeno suffered the loss for Colby, falling to 3-4.
"It's nice to get the win but I think we know we can still play better," DiBiase said. "For me personally, my performance looked good on the score card but I was definitely bailed out by the hitters a few times and I know there are areas of my game I can still improve."
Game two saw the Jumbos plate the only run they would need in the first inning. After three consecutive Jumbos reached base, freshman catcher Chrissie Massrey forced a walk, scoring Cantone from third base.
The Jumbos tallied another run in the second inning and then two more in the fourth to widen the margin. After working out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the second inning, senior co-captain starter Izzie Santone settled down, tossing five innings in which she struck out six Mules and allowed only three hits.
Freshman Lauren Giglio capped off an impressive day for Tufts pitchers with four strikeouts in her two innings of relief to secure the 4-0 victory. The Jumbos' pitching staff allowed just six total hits during the afternoon's two games, with only four Mules reaching third base all day.
Tufts improved to 18-14 overall and 6-2 in the NESCAC with the pair of wins. Meanwhile, the Mules slid further down in the standings, dropping to 8-16 on the year, while remaining winless (0-8) in NESCAC East play.
Though the teams were slated to play a third game on Saturday, the contest was postponed due to rain. The make-up game has yet to be announced.
The Jumbos will host Rhode Island College on Tuesday before traveling to Trinity for a make-or-break season-ending series. A Jumbos' series loss, combined with a single win for Bowdoin over Bates would leave Tufts out of the NESCAC playoffs for the first time in program history. To avoid disappointment, the Jumbos will need to improve their road performance; the team is only 4-5 away from Spicer Field this season.
"Ideally we would like to have more wiggle room," DiBiase said. "But this is what you play for, these types of competitive games. It's do or die now. This is what it's all about."
