Top-seeded Tufts (32-9) reeled off its second comeback win in as many days, spoiling Middlebury's bid for a spot in the NESCAC Championship, as the Jumbos used a big sixth inning en route to a 9-3 win on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers (20-10) posted their first 20-win season since 2018 and will wait to see if they earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament when the field is announced on Monday.

Tufts, which overcame a 5-1 deficit in the quarterfinals, advances to the conference title game on Sunday seeking its second-straight league championship.

A coin flip designated Middlebury as the home team for the contest, as Josie Steinberg gave the Jumbos a 1-0 in the top of the first. She drove in a run with an infield base hit.

In the bottom of the third, Middlebury manufactured a run to tie the score. Jordyn Johnson reached on an infield single, stole second and raced home on a base hit through the right side by Abby Santis. Noelle Ruschil drew a walk and scored along with Santis on a two-run double to center by Megan Fox for a 3-1 Panther advantage.

In the decisive sixth inning, Meggie Murphy led off with a double to right center and scored when Michelle Adelman lofted a three-base hit to right. Steinberg drove in Adelman with a base hit to tie the game (3-3) and later gave the Jumbos their first lead by racing home on a fielder's choice. Tufts then used a two-run single to center by Nicole Russo and a two RBI double by Murphy to push the difference to 8-3.

The Jumbos added a final run in the seventh on an RBI single by Keriann Slayton to make the final 9-3.

Sophie Bolinger went 2-3 at the plate for the Panthers and Santis was 2-3, extending her hitting streak to 21-consecutive games. Ruschil reached base three times, drawing a walk on each of those occasions. In the circle, Jewel Ashbrook (12-4) took the loss, allowing seven runs on eight hits in 6.1 innings of work.

Sky Johnson (15-4) picked up the win for Tufts, tossing four innings of hitless relief. Steinberg led the charge offensively with three hits, while Murphy and Rachel Moore each had a pair.