RALEIGH, NC (March 7, 2026) – Senior center fielder
Kaitlyn Perucci smashed a walk-off grand slam that gave Tufts University an 11-8 victory over ninth-ranked Christopher Newport University to highlight Saturday's softball action at the Triangle Collegiate Softball Classic.
In a wild one, the Jumbos led 3-0 early and then trailed the Captains 8-4 in the middle of the fifth inning before clawing their way back for the victory. The victory is the 200th of Tufts head coach
Lauren Ebstein's career.
Tufts also faced #2 in the nation Virginia Wesleyan University today and was tied 0-0 through four innings before falling 7-1.
The Jumbos are 3-1 after two days in North Carolina.
Tufts 11, Christopher Newport 8
The Jumbos had the upper hand early as junior catcher
Heaven Oliva hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the first to put Tufts up 3-0.
After Tufts stranded two Captains on base in the second inning, and then three in the third, CNU rallied for four runs in the top of the fourth to take a lead. A two-run triple down the right-field line by Katrina Swan put the Captains in front.
Tufts got one back to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth as first-year shortstop
Paige Murphy doubled and scored on a ground ball by sophomore 2B
Cat Kawabe.
The Captains scored four more in the top of the fifth to lead 8-4. Simone Thompson doubled home two runs and Cora Thomas tripled home two others for CNU. Tufts cut down Thomas at the plate going for an inside-the-park home run on a great relay from senior left fielder Lauren Horita, to Murphy to Oliva at home.
A CNU error and two singles, including a run-scoring base hit by Murphy, started Tufts' comeback in the fifth inning. They closed to within 8-6 in the sixth when Kawabe led off with a double and scored on senior
Haley Leimbach's fielder's choice.
Meanwhile, Tufts first-year
Francesca Colangelo held CNU scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings. In the bottom of the seventh, Tufts would load the bases and pull within 8-7 on an rbi walk by Leimbach. On a 2-1 count with two outs, Perucci then launched her game-winning slam to give Tufts the victory.
Colangelo earned her first collegiate win in relief, going 2.1 innings allowing one hit and one run. First-year
Avery Kanouse had made a strong start in the circle, giving up two hits and no runs in three innings. Perucci finished the game 3 for 3 with two walks, the four rbis and three runs.
Cora Grace Sparger took the loss for CNU (3-4), going all 6.2 innings allowing 10 hits and the 11 runs (eight earned). Candace Slaw was 3 for 3 with two runs and an rbi atop the Captains' order.
Virginia Wesleyan 7, Tufts 1
For the first four innings, Colangelo traded zeros with Marlins sophomore Hannah Hearl as the Jumbos battled with the 2025 NCAA runner-up team.
In the bottom of the first, Horita was robbed of a home run by Virginia Wesleyan left fielder Laci Campbell. Beyond that, Hearl shut down the Tufts hitters until Perucci blooped the Jumbos' first hit into right field to lead off the fourth.
The Marlins broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fifth with back-to-back home runs. Morgan Tucker hit a three-run shot to left-center, then Olivia Knight made it 4-0 with her homer to center. The Marlins added another run on an rbi single by Samantha Deitsch.
After Tucker had an rbi single up the middle to make it 6-0 in the sixth, Tufts would get its lone run in the bottom of the frame. Leimbach had a hustle double to center to lead off, went to third on Oliva's single and scored when Murphy singled through the left side.
The Marlins finished the scoring with Deitsch's home run in the top of the seventh.
The Jumbos finished with four hits against Hearl, who had allowed just one in 10 innings entering the game. Colangelo had her second solid outing of the day with 4.2 innings allowing two hits and two runs. Kanouse took the loss for the Jumbos after coming on in relief during the fifth.
Hearl improved to 3-0 on the young season, giving up four hits and one run. Tucker finished 2 for 4 with four rbis and a run, while Knight was 3 for 4 for the Marlins.
Next
Tufts finishes its weekend in North Carolina with games on Sunday against Randolph-Macon College at 9 AM and the University of Lynchburg right after.
--JUMBOS--
