MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The Middlebury softball team (1-1) opened its season with a doubleheader at home against Tufts (1-1). Panther Noelle Rushil hit a walk off single to secure a 3-2 victory in game one, while the Jumbos took game two by a score of 10-4. Middlebury is back in action on Saturday when it entertains Williams at 2:00 p.m., while Tufts hosts Bowdoin on the same day.
The Jumbos opened the scoring in the top of the fifth of game one. A single by Reegan Coleman drove in Nicole Russo, before Michelle Adelman crossed home plate to make it 2-0. The Panthers responded in their half of the inning, cutting the deficit to one (2-1).
Kaylee Gumm doubled, before pinch runner
Jordyn Johnson stole third and later touched home on a single by Bolinger. Tufts threatened to increase the lead in the sixth when a bunt single put runners on second and third, but the Jumbos were unable to plate a run. In the bottom of the seventh, Middlebury loaded the bases before Ruschil's walk off single to center brought in
Tori Papaleo for the 3-2 victory.
In the circle,
Jewel Ashbrook (1-0) earned the win for Middlebury in her collegiate debut, allowing two runs on six hits over seven innings of work. Bolinger went 2-3 with an RBI, while Ruschil was 2-4 with a double. Tufts' Kristina Haghdan allowed two runs on five hits over five innings, while Sophia DiCocco (0-1) suffered the loss for the Jumbos. Maggiore and Russo each went 2-3.
Tufts wasted little time getting things going in the second game, tallying a run in the top of the first. Coleman singled, advanced on a wild pitch, an eventually touched home on a single by Maggiore. Middlebury answered in its half of the inning, taking a 3-1 lead. With runners on second and third, a single to right center by
Sophia Marlino drove in
Emily Moore. A base hit through the left side by Bolinger drove in
Melanie Mandell, before Bolinger crossed home plate on a wild pitch for the two-run lead.
The Jumbos answered in the top of the second, scoring twice to make it 4-3. Middlebury knotted the game 4-4 in its half of the inning when
Kate Likhite crossed home plate after pinch running for
Megan Fox, who had doubled. With bases loaded in the top of the third, the Jumbos plated a pair of runs to make it 6-4. In the bottom of the sixth, the Panthers threatened to take the lead with bases loaded, but Tufts pitcher Russo worked herself out of the jam. The Jumbos scored four runs in the top of the seventh for the 10-4 victory.
Chloe McNamara (0-1) suffered the loss for Middlebury. Fox went 2-3 with a double, while Mandell went 2-4. Tufts' Coleman went 4-5 with an RBI and a run, while Kat Yuzefpols went 3-4 with a double and four RBI. DiCocco earned the win allowing no runs on three hits while striking out three.
