Having already clinched the number one seed in the NESCAC East, the No. 8 Jumbos can now rest up, reflect on an outstanding regular season and make sure it heads into the upcoming NESCAC playoffs as fresh and healthy as can be. At least, that's what one might expect.
But for a team in the midst of one of its best seasons ever, that's not part of the plan heading down the home stretch. The Jumbos - who began yesterday's doubleheader at Rhode Island College at 28-4 overall - have 30 wins on their mind, a total they have not eclipsed since 2009, when Tufts went undefeated in its division and 44-3 overall.
After having their 12-game winning streak snapped by Eastern Connecticut State on April 15, Tufts entered yesterday's games hoping to build on its most recent five-game streak.
"Our coach will not let our attitudes change," sophomore ChrissieMassrey said. "We know how important it is to stay driven and keep our bats hot. I think it's very important to go into the postseason strong, not just because of the confidence factor, but also we're not going to be a championship caliber team if we start to slack off."
"We go into every game with the mentality that we are the best team," sophomore catcher Jo Clair added. "We're going in looking to get the 'W'. It is important to be at our best when we finally go into the playoffs."
While Tufts will face a relatively light schedule the rest of the way, it may be difficult to keep their bats going like they have in recent weeks. In consecutive games against Bates and Brandeis last week, the Jumbos pounded out 25 runs, including a 15-run outburst on Saturday.
Clair is once again leading the team in a multitude of categories, including batting average (.463), home runs (8), RBIs (41) and slugging percentage (.853). And yet the sophomore slugger, along with the rest of the team, remains as humble and focused as ever.
"This is a good time for us, as a team, to work on mechanics and refine the details we haven't quite nailed down yet," Clair said. "It's all about going into the postseason as ready as can be."
The team's offensive production has been streaky all season, so if the Jumbos hope to make a run at the NESCAC title and become legitimate contenders for a national championship, their pitching staff will need to continue its dominance. Lately, the pitchers have shown no signs of slowing, holding opponents to just 10 runs in the last five games heading into yesterday's action, including three shutout performances.
The staff has been anchored by freshman Allyson Fournier, who has stifled opposing lineups, holding hitters to a .098 batting average. Her 158 strikeouts lead the NESCAC, and she has the single-season school record for the stat. Her 0.53 ERA and 14-0 record are no less impressive.
After a three-day hiatus to start off the week, the Jumbos returned to the diamond yesterday afternoon in double-header action against Rhode Island College; The Jumbos took the first game 4-3 and completed the sweep with a 10-3 win later in the afternoon.
This weekend, Tufts will return to Spicer Field to take on NESCAC cellar dweller Wesleyan in a two-game series. They will wrap up the regular season on Monday with a doubleheader on the road against Springfield College.
Then it is on to the postseason, where the Jumbos will possess home-field advantage throughout the NESCAC tournament. Their expectations are high, and only getting higher.
"Our primary goal is to take it one game at a time and first win NESCACs," Massrey said. "But we all have in the back of our heads something more, because we know we are capable. We have the talent, and this is our year to take a championship title."
