BRIDGEWATER, Mass. - The Tufts University softball team came away with a 14-0 win over host Bridgewater State College on Thursday afternoon in game one of a doubleheader at BSC's Alumni Park. Game two of the twinbill was postponed due to rain and poor field conditions.
The Jumbos, who are ranked 8th in the latest NFCA Division III poll, remain undefeated on the season as they improve to 18-0. Bridgewater State falls to 15-6 with their third straight defeat.
Senior left-hander Lauren Gelmetti (Westfield, NJ) tossed a complete game two-hit shutout to improve to 8-0 on the season. Gelmetti walked three and struck out four in five innings of work as the game was stopped after five due to the eight-run mercy rule.
Senior Samantha Kuhles (Somerville, NJ) and junior Casey Sullivan (Berlin, CT) paced the Jumbos' 15-hit attack. Kuhles went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer and an RBI double. Sullivan finished 3-for-3 with a double, a stolen base, three runs scored and three RBI.
Tufts took a 3-0 lead in the second inning with Sullivan driving in a run with a single and Kuhles plating the third run of the frame with the RBI double. The Jumbos broke the game open with a nine-run fourth inning highlighted by Kuhles three-run blast and a two-run double by Sullivan.
Senior Danielle Lopez (Danvers, MA) added a two-run single in the fourth as she finished the day 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Senior Laura Chapman (Seattle, WA) also went 2-for-4 with an RBI double.
Freshmen Michaela Ferreira (Fall River, MA) and Jahnna Khoury (Fall River, MA) had BSC's only two hits of the game. Ferreira singled in the second inning and Khoury had a pinch hit single in the fifth.
Senior Alyssa Verronneau (Acushnet, MA) took the loss in the circle for the Bears as she worked the first four innings.
Bridgewater State will host Framingham State College in a Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader on Saturday afternoon with game one getting underway at noon. Tufts travels to Trinity College on Friday for a four o'clock New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) game with the Bantams.