Hartford, Conn. – The Trinity College softball program took Tufts nine innings in game two, but couldn't get past the Jumbos Sunday afternoon, losing 6-0 and 5-4 in the program's home opener. The Bantams (1-5) scored two unanswered runs in the bottom of the seventh during Sunday's nightcap, but Tufts (8-2) never trailed, plating two runs in the top of the ninth to secure the win.
Trinity will take the week to recuperate before hosting Bowdoin Saturday, April 24, for two NESCAC contests.
In game one, both teams went scoreless through the first frame. Tufts got things going in the second inning; after a pair of walks and a base hit, Michelle Adelman singled into left-center, scoring Reegan Coleman and Josie Steinberg from second to make it 2-0.
Both teams were able to put runners on, but it wasn't until the top of the seventh before Tufts piled on four runs. With runners on second and third, Josie Steinberg delivered an RBI single to right-center, one-hopping the fence to make it 3-0. A single behind Steinberg loaded the bases before an RBI groundout from Coleman made it 4-0. With two outs and runners on second and third, Rachel Moore smoked a two-RBI single into left field.
With game two being highlighted by a phenomenal performance from Tufts starter Sophia DiCocco, the game didn't see any offense until the top of the fifth. With runners on second and third, it was Steinberg who produced yet another clutch hit, doubling to right-center to make it 2-0. Casey Maggiore followed suit, doubling to the left field wall and scoring Steinberg.
After not allowing a hit through five innings, Trinity finally cracked DiCocco. A walk and a groundout moved a runner into second, and senior Kaitlyn Decapua (Milford, Mass.) delivered a double down the right field line to put Trinity on the board and make it 3-1.
Trinity made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh. After loading the bases with one out, an infield grounder by junior
Alex Chambers (East Lyme, Conn.), Tufts tried to get the out at the plate; the throw sailed to the backstop and took a bad hop, allowing DeCapua and senior
Hannah Zukowski (Burlington, Conn.). The Bantams couldn't push a tiebreaker across, but the two runs scored forced extra innings for the first time this season.
In the top of the ninth, Tufts tacked on the game-winning run. With no outs and the bases loaded, Mia Steinberg came up with a clutch RBI, flying out to deep center to score the runner from third. Josie Steinberg followed with a sacrifice fly of her own with two outs, making it 5-3.
The Bantams wouldn't go away easily. With one out and one on in the bottom of the ninth, Chambers drove a ball deep to right field, scoring the runner from first before sliding in safely with a triple. With a runner in scoring position, the Bantams couldn't push across the tying run, ending the game 5-4.
Junior
Jordan Stephan (South Orange, N.J.) went the complete game, allowing four earned runs while fanning four.
Box Score Game 1
Box Score Game 2
