Gulls Blanked by National Powerhouse, #4 Tufts

MEDFORD, Mass. – The Endicott softball team traveled to NESCAC foe, #4 Tufts on Tuesday afternoon. Tufts entered the game as the #4 team in the nation following a 2013 season that brought them the national title. Despite the efforts by the Gulls pitching staff the Jumbos took game one, 1-0 and game two, 3-0. Endicott falls to 21-10-1 while Tufts improves to an impressive 28-3.

Endicott takes the field next tomorrow, April 23rd as they wrap up their three straight days of doubleheaders with a road game at Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opponent, Curry. Endicott will need to find a victory tomorrow to secure the #1 slot in the upcoming CCC postseason. Games are set for 3/5PM.

Game One: Endicott 0, Tufts 1

In game one, sophomore Katherine Clark (Taunton, Mass.) hurled all six innings for the Blue and Green while striking out four of her 29 batters faced. The sophomore also posted an impressive pitch count of 52 strikes on just 74 pitches.

Junior Sam Cila (Wakefield, Mass.) recorded a strong game at first base leading with eight putouts, followed by four from both, senior catcher, Alli Noyes (Tewksbury, Mass.) and freshman second baseman Chrissy Gikas (Danvers, Mass.).

For the Jumbos, junior pitcher Allyson Fournier (South Windsor, Conn.) was solid in the circle as she hurled all seven innings while retiring 13 Gulls on strikeouts and allowing just three hits.

Tufts got their lone run in the bottom of the first after Michelle Cooprider (Hopkinton, Mass.) reached home on an unearned run off a throwing error by the Blue and Green.

Clark worked the circle for the remainder of the game but the Gulls offense could not shake a solid day by Fournier as the Jumbos took the 1-0 decision.

Game Two: Endicott 0, Tufts 3

In game two pitching duties were split between freshman Leigh Wyman (South Freeport, Maine) and sophomore Courtney Blake (East Islip, N.Y.). Wyman got her first start in the Gulls uniform as she hurled 3.2 innings, throwing 42 strikes on 74 pitches. Blake came in on the relief and hurled just over two innings while allowing two hits in the tough 3-0 loss.

Freshman Lexi Pederson (Chandler, Ariz.) posed a strong game as first base as the rookie led the game with five putouts, followed by four by centerfielder, freshman Ilyza Holman (Ashland, Mass.).

For the Jumbos, senior pitcher Lauren Giglio (Niskayuna, N.Y.) struck out nine Gulls while allowing just three hits in her seven innings in the circle as she improves to 12-1 on the season.

Tufts got on the board early in the bottom of the first as senior Jo Clair (Glastonbury, Conn.) launched a solo homerun to left field. In the bottom of the fourth Tufts recorded their second run of the game as junior Gracie Marshall (Palo Alto, Calif.) reached home on a walk. The Jumbos tallied an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth to secure the 3-0 shutout.