The Middlebury softball team dropped game one of the NESCAC Tournament, falling 2-0 to three-time defending champion Tufts in Medford, Massachusetts. The Panthers (19-10) return to action on Saturday when they take on Bowdoin, who fell in 10 innings to Williams in the day's second game, at 10:00 a.m. The Jumbos (39-0) will take on the the Ephs at 12:30 p.m.

Tufts took a 1-0 lead early, as a one-out blast to left by Christina Raso gave the Jumbos the early advantage.

Middlebury threatened in the third inning, as Ali Della Volpe reached on an error to lead off the inning. Christina Bicks laid down a bunt single to third, putting runners at first and second. Jackie Stern followed and also reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Tufts starter Erica County was lifted in favor of Allyson Fournier, who retired the next three batters to get out of the jam.

Tufts had runners on second and third in the third inning after Carrie Copacino reach on an error and moved to third on a double down the left-field line by Raso with two outs. Middlebury starter Neve Stearns induced a pop out to short to end the threat, as Tufts maintained its 1-0 advantage.

Middlebury put runners on base in the fifth and sixth, but could not tie the game. Tufts added an insurance run in the sixth inning as Raso reached for the third time with an infield single. One batter later, Cassie Ruscz belted a double to left center to plate Raso for the 2-0 advantage. The Jumbos threatened again in the inning, but Stearns got out of the jam.

Middlebury went down in order in the seventh as the Jumbos advanced.

Stearns (7-4) went the distance for Middlebury, allowing a pair of runs on six hits with six strikeouts. Bicks, Stern, Della Volpe  and Carlyn Vachow each had hits in the game, including a double for Vachow.

Fournier (23-0) picked up the win in relief, allowing two hits with nine strikeouts over five innings of work. Raso finished 3-3 with a double, homer and two runs scored, while Rusza had a run-scoring double.