Another start for Allyson Fournier, another dominant effort. Yesterday against Bridgewater State, the freshman was set to throw her third perfect game of the season before a bunt single by CorrieMcCue in the sixth inning broke her streak of 15 straight batters retired.
The bunt hit was the only blemish in Fournier's final line, as she allowed just one player to reach base while striking out 15 - including the first eight Bears hitters of the game - in a seven?inning shutout. The right?hander improved to 12?0 in the Jumbos' 4?0 victory at Spicer Field, and her 135 strikeouts this season put her within five of the Jumbos' single?season record, set 10 years ago by Jodie Moreau (LA '02).
Tufts' bats were quiet for the majority of the game as Bridgewater State pitching held the potent Jumbos' offense to just four hits. Sophomore right fielder Kayla Holland gave the Jumbos a 2?0 lead when she belted a two?run homer with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. After a pitching change in the sixth, sophomore catcher Jo Clair, the NESCAC leader in long balls, gave the Jumbos some insurance with a two?run homer of her own.
Holland and Clair both finished 1?for?3 with two RBIs and a run scored, while junior second baseman Emily Beinecke crossed the plate twice in the victory.
The Jumbos, who had their 12?game winning streak snapped on Sunday, improved to 24?4 on the season and remain the frontrunners for a top seed in the upcoming NESCAC tournament. They travel to Lewiston, Maine this weekend to take on the Bates Bobcats in their last NESCAC East series of the regular season.
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