Softball Falls to Tufts University, 11-2

Box Score

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. - Freshman first baseman Lena Cantone (Southington, CT) went 4-for-4 and drove in seven runs to lead the Tufts University softball team to an 11-2 victory over host Bridgewater State College this afternoon at Alumni Park in Bridgewater.

The tenth ranked Jumbos remain undefeated on the season as they improve to an impressive 27-0.  Bridgewater falls to 17-9 overall as they have dropped six of their last eight games.

Cantone finished a triple shy of hitting for the cycle as she doubled, homered and banged out a pair of singles.

Sophomore right-hander Izzie Santone (Madison, CT) earned the win in the circle for Tufts as she improved to 13-0.  Santone allowed just one unearned run on four hits in four innings of work.  She walked one and struck out two.

The Jumbos broke the game open with four runs in second inning and five more in the third.  The game was stopped after the fifth inning due to the eight-run mercy rule.

In the second, the Jumbos loaded the bases nobody out.  Bridgewater however looked as though they were going to get out of the inning unscathed.  Senior pitcher Stephanie Pierce (Worcester, MA) induced a fielder's choice ground out to cut down a runner at the plate and then got a pop up to short for the second out of the inning.  A weak ground ball back to the circle should have ended the threat, but Pierce bobbled the ball and everyone was safe.  Cantone then followed with a three-run double to the gap in right-center field.

Cantone highlighted the Jumbos' five-run third inning with a bases loaded two-run single.  She then capped off the scoring for Tufts in the fifth with her second home run of the season, a two-run blast over the left field fence.

Senior right fielder Maya Ripecky (Chicago, IL) also was perfect at the plate for the Jumbos as she went 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Junior designated player Christy Tinker (Woodbridge, CT) finished 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI, while senior left fielder Roni Herbst (Montclair, NJ) went 1-for-2 with an RBI and three runs scored.

Pierce (6-4) suffered the loss for BSC as she allowed seven runs (three earned) on eight hits in two plus innings of work.  Freshman Michaela Ferreira (Fall River, MA) led the way offensively as she went 1-for-2 and scored both of the Bears' runs.

Bridgewater hosts Fitchburg State College in a MASCAC doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon.  Tufts travels to Babson College tomorrow for a doubleheaders with the Beavers starting at 3:00 PM.