With the weather finally clearing up, the softball team was actually able to play a pair of games yesterday, when it traveled to Bridgewater State for a non-conference weekday double-header. The Jumbos won both ends of the twin-bill - with a 2-1 victory in game one and an 11-3 drubbing in game two.
Now that the Jumbos have gotten past Bridgewater, the team is readying itself for a pair of important weekend double-headers. Due to cancellations last week, instead of playing at home against Colby and then traveling to Bates for the make-up game, the Jumbos will remain in Maine for the weekend and play Colby at Bates as the home team.
Saturday's contest against Colby features a match-up of contenders for the NESCAC East division title. Though the White Mules enter with a 3-6 record overall (as of Thursday afternoon) and have yet to play a game in the NESCAC, Tufts coach Kris Herman is aware of the strength of her competition.
Last year, Colby put up quite a fight against Jumbos despite a record of 12-11-2, compared to Tufts at 25-7. The underestimated young team mounted an eight-run rally late in last year's game, and nearly defeated the Jumbos. Though Tufts eventually smothered Colby's hopes of a victory by scoring two runs in the seventh inning for a 9-8 victory, Herman would like to prevent the need for a late inning resurgence this time around.
"They still have a relatively young team," Herman said. "They came back with eight runs last year to tie it up even though we ended up beating them. They play with a lot of confidence and they will be up for us, so we've got to be up for them."
Sunday the team will play a make-up doubleheader against Bates. The Jumbos were originally scheduled to play the Bobcats last weekend but had to call the game due to inclement weather conditions. Bringing a 1-5 overall record (0-0 in the NESCAC) to the table, the Jumbos are confident that a victory against Bates is within reach.
Tufts easily handled the Bobcats 8-0 and 5-2 in last year's double-header. And while Bates has improved from last season, its improvement most likely has not brought it to the level Tufts plays on.
"They were not a strong team in the NESCAC last year and they're probably a little bit better but not a lot," Herman said. "They're a team we should beat."
Though the Jumbos should be able to pull out victories over both of their opponents, it is important that the team keep its focus this weekend. As the squad has four NESCAC East games this weekend, solid play on the road should secure the top seed in the post-season tournament.
Going into the weekend, the team hopes to use all of its pitchers. Sophomore Caroline Grieco and freshmen Julia Brenta have performed well for the team of late, with Brenta earning NESCAC Player of the week honors after her performance in a 2-1 win over Wheaton. But Herman hopes that this weekend will also give junior pitchers Pam Swidler and Sarah Conroy a chance at the mound as well.
Due to weather issues causing multiple cancellations, the coach has had little opportunity to use the other available pitchers.
"Caroline and Julia have both been throwing very well," Herman said. "But I'm hoping that all four of those kids get a chance to throw."
Meanwhile, junior Maggie McClory will remain relegated to outfield duties, but only because the Jumbos are in need of her strong defensive skills.
Though the Jumbos are the stronger team in both of this weekend's match-ups, the team needs to focus on getting all three cylinders (offense, defense and pitching) to click together.
"We learned in the Western [Connecticut] game that all the little things matter," Herman said. "Our hitting was not great and our pitching and our defense didn't click at the same time. So picking things up not as individuals but just as a game is what we have to work on.'
After a hard week of practice, the team hopes to accomplish its goals and return home further ahead in the NESCAC East standings.
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