Tufts Softball Splits Non-Conference Double-header with MIT

MEDFORD - MIT's Jasmin Joseph keyed a five-run second inning in the first game with a two-run single, while Tufts' Christina Raso had a bases-clearning double during a seven-run first inning in the second game as the Engineers and Jumbos split a non-league softball double-header Tuesday at Spicer Field. MIT won the opener 6-3, then Tufts took the nightcap 11-2 in five innings.

Christian Cain belted her third home run in the second game

The split left the Jumbos at 17-7 heading into tomorrow's double-header at Endicott College. The Engineers are now 24-6  going into Friday's NEWMAC double-header at WPI.

Joseph led off game one with a single and scored on a base hit by Tori Jensen. MIT loaded the bases with no outs in the second and Joseph's single up the middle scored two. Zoe Hinton hit a two-run double later in the inning as MIT took a 6-0 lead.

The Jumbos got one back in the bottom of the second asRaven Fournier hit a lead-off triple and scored on a single byCassie Ruscz.
Tufts starter Erica County stranded eight Engineers on base in the third through sixth innings keeping the score at 6-1. The Jumbos then rallied in the bottom of the sixth as Fournier hit a two-out, solo home run to left. Ruscz followed with a single and scored on a double by Summer Horowitz making it 6-3 before MIT starter Alexandra Marshall got the final out of the inning.

The Jumbos would bring the tying run to the plate with two runners on twice in the seventh inning, but Marshall finished off the win with a pair of outs.

Joseph was 3 for 5 with two runs and two rbis in the opener for MIT. Hinton finished 2 for 3 with two rbis while Jensen and Katherine Shade both had two hits. Marshall improved to 16-4 going seven innings allowing nine hits and three runs with six strikeouts and no walks.

Fournier was 2 for 3 with two runs and an rbi for Tufts in game one. Ruscz, Horowitz, and Carrie
Copacino also had two hits. County dropped to 13-3 with the pitching loss.

Only two of Tufts' seven first-inning runs in game two were earned against MIT starter Ravenne Nasser. Fournier's two-run triple got things going before run-scoring base hits by Horowitz and Copacino preceded Raso's three-run double. The Jumbos would add two more runs in the second to lead 9-0 as Fournier singled and scored on Christian Cain's double. Raina Galbiati scored Cain with a single.

Galbaiti started game two for Tufts and was strong for a second straight outing. She allowed just two hits through four innings. The Jumbos extended their margin to 11-0 on a two-run home run by Cain to left in the fourth.

MIT got on the scoreboard in the fifth after two were out. Two Tufts errors helped their cause, as did a double by Shade and an rbi single from Joseph.

Galbiati earned her fourth win allowing four hits and two runs (one earned) with two strikeouts and no walks in five innings. Raso was 3 for 4 at the top of the Tufts order and Cain finished 3 for 3 with three rbis and three runs. Fournier (2 for 3, 2 rbis, 2 runs) and Horowitz (2 for 3, run, rbi) also led Tufts' 15-hit attack.

Joseph continued a fine day with two more hits in the nightcap for MIT. Nasser did not get out of the first inning and took the pitching loss.