The Bobcats dropped both ends of a doubleheader against No. 1 Tufts University on April 12, 2015. (File Photo by Josh Kuckens/Bates College)

MEDFORD, Mass. - The Bates softball team tapped No. 1 Tufts University for five runs in game two, but ran into a hot pitcher in game one, ultimately falling in both ends of a doubleheader, 8-0 and and 8-5 on Sunday afternoon in NESCAC action at Spicer Field.

Bates (2-16, 1-7 NESCAC) was led in game two by Kira Shaikh (Manchester, Conn.) who was 3-4, while Paige Ahlholm (North Andover, Mass.) was 3-4 with two RBI's. Jenney Abbott (Rangeley, Maine) picked up two RBI's for the Bobcats, while the undefeated Jumbos (20-3, 3-0 NESCAC) had five players with multi-hit performances in game two.

In game one, the Bobcats ran into one of the hottest pitchers in Division III, as senior right hander Allyson Fournier threw the fourth perfect game and 11th no-hitter of her career. Fournier is now 11-0 in 2015, while senior Brenna Callahan took the loss in game one for Bates.

The Bobcats return to action on Saturday, April 18 when the team takes on Hamilton in a double-header at Tufts, beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Game two Tufts 8, Bates 5

Bates gave up a run in the bottom of the first, but tied things up in the top of the second. Victoria Fitzgerald (Holliston, Mass.) singled through the left side to start inning two and moved to second on a Paige Ahlholm infield single. Emma Schiller (Natick, Mass.) moved both runners over on a fielder's choice to third base and eventually scored when a shot off of the bat of Kelsey Freedman (Falmouth, Maine) was mishandled.

The Bobcats went ahead in the top of the third with two runs on two hits, highlighted by a two-out double to right center field from Ahlholm to give Bates the 3-1 lead after two and a half. The Jumbos responded with four runs on four hits in the bottom of the third, including a single from Shelby Lipson that scored a pair of runs to tie the game. Sara Willner-Giwerc reached on an error and two more runs came home to give Tufts the 5-3 lead.

The Jumbos added another run in the fourth, but Bates responded with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth on a two-out single by Jenney Abbott that brought home Shaikh and Karen Lockhart (East Greenwich, R.I.) to bring the Bobcats within one, but Tufts answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth and Tufts pitcher Erica County shut Bates down in the top of seven to secure the win.

County (9-0) tossed the complete game, giving up four earned runs on 12 hits in seven innings while striking out six.

Freedman was on the mound for Bates in game one, tossing six innings and giving up eight runs, five of them earned, while striking out six. The Bobcats were once again led on offense by Kira Shaikh and Paige Ahlholm who were each 3-4, while Ahlholm had two RBI's and teammate Maddie Inflow also had a multi-hit game for Bates.