Box Score
MEDFORD – The #7 Tufts University softball team shutout the Bobcats of Bates College, 8-0, in five innings in the first game of NESCAC East play on Friday afternoon at Spicer Field.
Bates left two runners on base in the first inning. Senior shortstop Mary Lewis (Gardiner, ME) led off the game with a bunt single, but a double play quickly erased her.
Tufts senior starting pitcher Rebecca DiBiase (Wellesley, MA) walked the next batter, senior RF Caroline Gatusso (North Reading, MA). Bates sophomore starting pitcher Kelsey Freedman (Falmouth, ME) then singled, but DiBiase forced a groundout to strand both runners.
Tufts then jumped ahead in the bottom of the frame. Junior LF Sara Hedtler (Wrentham, MA) reached on a bunt single and then stole second base. Sophomore CF Michelle Cooprider (Hopkinton, MA) then brought her home with a single. Two batters later senior 2B Emily Beinecke (Concord, MA) added an RBI single.
The Bobcats had one hit in each of the next three innings, but they left a total of five runners on base. The Jumbos grew their lead to six runs in the second inning, kick-started by first-year RF Christina Raso's (Burlington, MA) three-run homer. She now has two home runs and 12 runs batted in.
The last run of the inning came after Hedtler singled and scored, this time on a run-scoring double by Beinecke.
Tufts added its final two runs in the fourth inning. Junior Jo Clair (Glastonbury, CT) drove in Raso with an RBI double and later Clair scored on an error.
DiBiase closed things out with a 1-2-3 fifth inning. She finished five shutout innings giving up five hits with two strikeouts and three walks. She's now 3-1 on the year.
Freedman dropped to 2-2 after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits with no strikeouts and one walk.
Beinecke was 3 for 3 for the Jumbos with two RBI. Hedtler and Raso also had multi-hit games for Tufts. They each scored two runs.
Freedman tried to help her own cause as she finished the day at the plate 2 for 3 with a pair of singles. Gatusso and junior 3B Alayna Garbarino (Reading, MA) reached base twice for the Bobcats as well.
Jumbos are now 14-1 (1-0 NESCAC East) while Bates falls to 4-5 (0-1). The two teams will play a doubleheader tomorrow starting at Noon at Spicer Field.
Game Box Score
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