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The Tufts Daily
Where you read it first | Saturday, November 16, 2024

Softball | Red-hot Tufts sweeps weekend series over Bowdoin

During the softball team's spring break trip to Clermont, Fla., the Jumbos managed to go 11-3 without a single long ball from sophomore catcher Jo Clair, who launched 16 home runs in her rookie season to set the school's single-season record. While Clair didn't exactly struggle at the plate on the trip - she had 10 extra-base hits and 13 RBIs - a return home to Spicer Field was all it took for her to get back to doing what she does best: going yard. 

In Clair's first at-bat of the Jumbos' home opener against the Bowdoin Polar Bears on Friday, she launched a two-run homer. Then, in the fourth inning, she cranked another two-run shot, extending her team's lead to 6-0 en route to a victory and ultimately a three-game series sweep. 

The Jumbos are now 14-3 on the year and a perfect 4-0 in NESCAC East play. With Clair finding her power stroke, the lineup is turning into a force to be reckoned with.

"I would say that every game I become more and more impressed with one through nine in the lineup," Clair said. "It's not just one person stepping up in a game, it's multiple people, and if you decide you're going to pitch around me you're going to have to deal with [junior second baseman] Emily [Beinecke] and [senior tri-captain first baseman] Lena [Cantone], so it's really pick your poison."

The eight runs put up by the Jumbos offense in the first game of the series was more than enough for freshman pitcher Allyson Fournier, who allowed one hit and fanned 11 in a five-inning complete game shutout to improve to 7-0 on the spring. Fournier, who was named NESCAC Pitcher of the Week last week, didn't allow a base runner and struck out six batters in the first three frames before Bowdoin senior Hillary Smyth ended her bid for perfection with a walk to start the fourth. Senior Caroline Dewar followed with a bunt single, the Polar Bears' lone hit of the afternoon. But Fournier didn't waver for long, striking out the next three Polar Bear batters to get out of the inning.

If Fournier keeps up this pace, she will have plenty more chances to throw no-hitters in the future.

"Allyson's been pitching consistently well all season long," Clair said. "I will probably go as far as to say that she will throw a no-hitter this year, but obviously that's not the goal."

   The Polar Bears kept it close in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, jumping out to an early 1-0 lead on an RBI double from junior shortstop Toni DaCampo in the first. But Clair had something to say about that. 

Senior tri-captain centerfielderLizzyIuppa walked with one out in the bottom of the first and senior tri-captain first baseman Lena Cantone reached on an error, putting runners on first and third for the Jumbos' best power hitter. Then, in her first plate appearance of the day, Clair blasted a three-run home run - her third in two days - to give the Jumbos a 3-1 advantage and put them ahead for good.

Sophomore Kayla Holland had a big game at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and four RBIs, including a single in the fourth to extend the Tufts lead to 6-1.

Still trailing 6-1 in the sixth, the Polar Bears began a furious rally against junior AlyMoskowitz, highlighted by a three-run homer from senior Amy Hackett to pull within two. The Jumbos tacked on three insurance runs in the bottom of the inning to extend the lead to 9-4, but Hackett smacked a bases-clearing double in the seventh to bring the Polar Bears back within two. With Hackett on second and only one out, Moskowitz induced back-to-back ground ball outs to preserve the victory, by a final score of 9-7. Sophomore Rebecca DiBiase earned the victory to improve to 5-2, pitching five innings and allowing a run on four hits.

The second game of the doubleheader started off much like the first, with Bowdoin establishing  a 2-0 lead in the second inning. However, the Jumbos once again responded with even more offense in the bottom half of the frame, scoring five runs in the inning and building a decisive lead. The rally was highlighted by a bases-clearing double by Beinecke.

"It's a lot easier to pitch when you have run support," DiBiase said. "Not only is your team up, but the other team is down. It really takes off the burden of giving up a run or two. When I gave up the one run in the first inning, I was not happy, but I knew that it would be fine with the offense that we have."

Beinecke, who drove in an incredible seven runs in the game and nine total on the afternoon, blasted a grand slam in the third inning to give the Jumbos a 9-2 lead. The Polar Bears compiled their second sixth-inning comeback of the day, plating six runs in the frame on seven hits and knocking sophomore Lauren Giglio out of the game. But Fournier came on to record the final four outs, sealing the Jumbos' 12-9 victory and the weekend sweep.

The Jumbos will return to action on Wednesday with a non-league doubleheader against Babson at Spicer Field.