 |
|
Kristin Masino '07
|
 |
|
Katie Franklin '07
|
 |
|
Caitlin Murphy '07
|
MEDFORD, Mass. -- Bates senior pitcher Kristin Masino (North Arlington, N.J.) stymied the Tufts University bats in the first game, but the Jumbo lumber returned in force for the second game as the teams split a NESCAC East Division softball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Spicer Field. Bates won the first game 4-1 and Tufts took the second 11-0 in a run-rule shortened five innings.
Masino pitched seven innings and allowed just three hits and a run in the opener. Senior co-captain Katie Franklin (New Preston, Conn.) gave her a 2-0 lead with an RBI single in the first and another in the second. Senior SS Caitlin Murphy (Westwood, Mass.) scored both times, following a single in the first and a double in the third.
The Jumbos scored their lone run in the third, when first-year 2B Casey Sullivan (Berlin, Conn.) walked, stole second and scored on a single by sophomore catcher Cara Hovhanessian (Farmington, Conn.).
Trailing 2-1 in the fifth, the Jumbos loaded the bases against Masino with no outs and their 3-4-5 hitters due up. Masino impressively worked out of the jam with a pop-up and two strikeouts. The Bobcats then added two runs in the top of the sixth, including a lead-off home run by first-year LF Jill Cappucci (Saugus, Mass.). Murphy finished 3-for-4 with two runs and Franklin was 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the winners.
The tables turned in the second game, with Tufts scoring two, three and six runs in the first three innings. First-year starting pitcher Stefanie Tong (Burlingame, Calif.) did her part as well, allowing just two hits and no runs in four innings. First-year LF Jenna Robey (St. Ann, Mo.) finished the game 3 for 3 with four runs batted in. She hit two-run doubles in the first and second innings. A two-run single by junior 1B Erica Bailey (Scottsdale, Ariz.) highlighted the third for Tufts. Sullivan went 3 for 4 with three runs and two RBIs, while both Samantha Kuhles (Somerville, N.J.) and Roni Herbst (Montclair, N.J.) had two hits and scored two runs in the game for Tufts. The Jumbos had 14 hits overall.
With the split, Tufts is now 10-5 and 2-1 in the NESCAC East and Bates is 3-6 and 1-2. Tufts took two out of three games in the weekend series, including Friday afternoon's 8-1 win.
Bates' home doubleheader against UMaine-Farmington scheduled for Sunday has been postponed to a date to be determined, due to an overly wet field. The Bobcats' next slated game is against NESCAC East rival Trinity on Friday at Bates at 4 p.m.
BOX SCORE: Bates 4, Tufts 1 (Game 1)
BOX SCORE: Tufts 11, Bates 0 (Game 2)
