CLERMONT, Fla. - The Tufts softball team was snakebit in Florida on Sunday, losing twice in extra innings against New Paltz State and the 17th ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Tufts fell 4-3 to New Paltz and then dropped a 3-2 contest against Whitewater.
The Jumbos had a 3-0 lead in the New Paltz game, scoring single runs in the first, third and fourth innings. Junior 1B Lena Cantone (Southington, CT) led off the game with a single, took second on an errant throw, moved to third on a passed ball and then scored on a wild pitch. In the third, first year DH Jo Clair (Glastonbury, CT) blasted a solo home run with two outs. Junior CF Lizzy Iuppa (Paramus, NJ) used her speed to manufacture a run in the fourth after a bunt single. She scored on a squeeze bunt by senior Kim Miner (Concord, MA).
New Paltz began its comeback with a run in the fourth on a double by first year LF Melissa Kump. Junior RF Victoria Holm singled home a run in the fifth to make it a 3-2 game. While sophomore pitcher Gillian Davidoff kept Tufts off the scoreboard in the late inings, New Paltz scored the tying run in the bottom of the seventh when senior 1B Jillian Gallagher singled, stole second and scored on a single by junior 3B Samantha Barra.
In the eighth, with runners placed on second for both teams as part of the tie-breaking rule, it was the Hawks that capitalized on an RBI single by junior CF Kristen Schork.
Barra and Holm both had two hits for New Paltz. Davidoff got the win in relief, allowing just one hit and no runs in four innings.
Sophomore Aly Moskowitz (Westfield, NJ) started for Tufts and went 6.1 innings giving up eight hits and three runs while striking out seven with three walks. Senior Izzie Santone (Madison, CT) took the loss in relief, surrendering a hit and a run in an inning of work.
Tufts went toe-to-toe with Wisconsin-Whitewater in the second game. The Warhawks pulled ahead 2-0 in the first inning on a two-run single up the middle by sophoore catcher Emily Epifanio. Tufts starter Rebecca DiBiase (Wellesley, MA) got into a groove after that and did not allow a run over the next six innings.
Meanwhile, the Jumbos tied the score at 2-2 in the third. Cantone led off with a single and was sacrificed to second. First year 2B Kayla Holland (Attleborough, MA) had an infield single to load the bases, then first year Lauren Giglio (Niskayuna, NY) produced a two-run single to tie the score. Like DiBiase, UWW's Stang was strong in the late innings as the game remained 2-2 heading into the eighth.
The Jumbos got their runner over to third in the eighth, but could not score. For the Warhawks, a single by first year CF Mimi Ramirez and a sacrifice line-out by senior 3B Lauren Rankins produced the game-winning run.
Senior RF Haley Krueger finished 2 for 3 for UWW, while Ramirez was 2 for 4 with a run and sophomore DH Amanda Mertes scored twice. Stang allowed six hits and two runs with no walks and seven strikeouts while improving to 3-0 in the pitcher's circle.
Cantone was 2 for 3 with a run at the top of the Tufts order. DiBiase allowed seven hits and two earned runs with four strikeouts and a walk during her complete game.
Tufts fell to 0-4 overall with NTC Spring Games against Fontbonne and Wisconsin-Stevens Point coming up tomorrow. The game was the season opener for New Paltz (1-0), while UWW improved to 5-1 overall.
New Paltz Box Score
Wisconsin-Whitewater Box Score
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