After a successful spring break trip to Florida that rocketed the softball team's record to 13?1 last week, the Jumbos will now turn their attention to a long string of NESCAC matchups. First, the team will travel to Lewiston, Maine to take on Bates in a tripleheader to kick off the conference season this weekend.
Last season, the Jumbos finished at the top of the NESCAC standings and are now hoping to use the team's upcoming games as a jumping?off point for a bid to nationals, and, according to senior tri?captain Rebecca DiBiase, every game in the coming weeks will be crucial.
"We are taking the attitude that every game is the most important game of the season," DiBiase said. "We are keeping the team on the same page."
Bates finished sixth in the NESCAC conference last year, but according to Tufts coach Cheryl Milligan the Bobcats continue to improve steadily and will need to be taken seriously.
"Certainly take them as any NESCAC opponent," Milligan said. "It's a must?win game for us."
DiBiase echoed her coach's statement, noting that the team has played some of their toughest games against opponents who were lower than them in the rankings.
"Even though the games against Middlebury or Trinity might be more anticipated, we've actually played tougher games against Bates and Colby," DiBiase said.
Coming back from Florida, the Jumbos have made a point of refocusing on the NESCAC schedule and not letting their early?season successes make them complacent.
"We're just trying to get the team getting ready into the altered mentality, going in and not letting up at any point," DiBiase said.
The Jumbos have a number of in?conference series coming up, and their goal is to keep the intensity up for all three games starting with the first night, in this case on Friday against the Bobcats.
"The [opening] night game is important to set the tone for the rest of the weekend," DiBiase said. "You have to come out strong then because so many games come after."
"Our goals are the same as every other day - to come away with three wins - and also great pitching, offense and defense," Milligan added.
After a week of play in Florida, Milligan thinks that she has a good idea of where the Jumbos needs to be in order to contend in the upcoming weeks. Despite losing several strong batters last year, hitting continues to be a strong suit for Tufts with such a deep lineup.
"Offensively we're really coming through a lot better than we were last year, having more balance throughout the lineup," Milligan said. "There were a couple games in Florida where everyone was hitting the ball [well]."
This week, the team has been working on little things that they hope to apply in their games against Bates. In particular, Milligan highlighted the need to work on increased speed and agility.
"We are working on some base running - we had a big negative in Florida from those mistakes," she said.
Because of field conditions, last Tuesday's Endicott game is being rescheduled, which means this weekend's games will be the first for the Jumbos since coming back from break and the first conference series, where the Jumbos begin their defense of their NESCAC title.
