The softball team continued to rumble toward the postseason this weekend with a two-game sweep against non-division NESCAC opponent Wesleyan. The Jumbos pitching staff dominated all day, allowing just three runs on 10 hits as the team extended its winning streak to nine games.
Wesleyan had no answer for junior second baseman Emily Beinecke, who had six hits, a run and an RBI on the day. Sophomore catcher Jo Clair, one of the frontrunners for NESCAC Player of the Year accolades, continued her stellar season, belting two homers in the doubleheader.
In game one, the No. 8 Jumbos defeated the Cardinals 7-5 behind the right arm of junior Rebecca DiBiase, who threw a complete game, fanning nine hitters while allowing seven hits. Tufts jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, as Clair hit a solo shot in the first and freshman right fielder Michelle Cooprider knocked an RBI single in the second.
Wesleyan came back to take a 3-2 lead into the sixth inning, but behind the powerful bat of senior tri-captain first baseman Lena Cantone, the Tufts offense erupted for four runs in the frame. The Cardinals almost managed a comeback in the seventh, scoring two runs before DiBiase struck out the game's final two batters to seal the 7-5 victory.
The second game was a familiar sight for the Jumbos, as freshman sensation Allyson Fournier was dominant, hurling a three-hit shutout with 14 strikeouts. Fournier, who owns the Tufts single-season strikeout record, retired the game's first seven batters before allowing a bunt single to junior Ashley McLaren with one out in the third.
The Jumbos held on to a 1-0 lead until the sixth inning before Clair and Cantone hit back-to-back home runs to extend the advantage to 3-0, which stuck as the final score.
With the two victories, the Jumbos are now 32-4 and have lost just once since their spring break trip to Florida. The team will finish its regular season today with a doubleheader at Springfield before facing off against Middlebury on April 4 in the first round of the NESCAC playoffs.
