Softball Comes From Behind Again To Win 7-3 at Endicott

BEVERLY, MA (April 23, 2025) - Lindsay Neumann knocked in the go-ahead runs in the fifth inning and Sophia DiCocco retired all 13 Endicott College batters that she faced in relief as the Tufts University softball team topped the Gulls 7-3 in a non-league game today.

Now 19-13 overall, Tufts improved to 5-0 against New England region non-league foes. Endicott dropped to 17-11 overall.

Tufts would jump out in front 2-0 by scoring after two were out in each of the first two innings off Gulls starter Jaylin Couto. Bela Jimenez started the game with a single and scored on a double to the fence in left by Keriann Slayton. In the top of the second, Cat Kawabe reached by error and scored on a single by Kaitlyn Perucci.

Jumbo starter Lacy Chilek stranded two runners on base in the second inning. However, the Gulls surged ahead with three in the third. Ella Tower and Mia Mitchell both singled and scored on an outfield error by the Jumbos that tied the game. Paige Berdos followed with an rbi single and the hosts led 3-2.

Endicott had brought reliever Kristen Beebe on in relief to start the third and she pitched two scoreless innings. However, Tufts would take the lead back against her in the fifth. Singles by Haley Leimbach, Slayton and Lauryn Horita loaded the bases. Leimbach scooted home on wild pitch, and then Neumann poked a two-run single to right giving Tufts a 5-3 advantage.

DiCocco had entered the game with two outs in the third and would not allow a base runner while finishing the game.

The Jumbos added two in the seventh after back-to-back singles by Heaven Oliva and Slayton to lead it off. Following a sacrifice by Horita, Neumann with a fielder's choice and Kawabe with a single brought in the runs.

Tufts pitching allowed just three Endicott hits. DiCocco earned her 11th win with 4.1 innings of no-hit, no-run relief along with five K's. Slayton finished 3 for 4 with two runs and an rbi, while Neumann was 2 for 4 with the three rbis. Jimenez and Perucci had two hits each.

Beebe took the loss for Endicott, just her second of the season, going four innings allowing seven hits and three earned runs.

The Jumbos' home NESCAC double-header against Hamilton College has been moved to Friday at 3 PM due to rain expected on Saturday. Tufts will have its Senior Day activities prior to the game.