MEDFORD, Mass. -- The Tufts University softball team posted a 7-4 victory over visiting Bridgewater State College on Thursday afternoon in Medford. The second game of a scheduled doubleheader was postponed due to impending darkness.
First-year 2B Emily Beinecke (Concord, MA) hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning when Tufts scored five times on their way to the 7-4 win.
Beinecke's first collegiate home run to center gave the Jumbos a 2-0 lead. They scored their third run on a suicide squeeze bunt by junior catcher Julia Silberman (Somers, NY), and got two more with the help of BSC miscues.
The Bears got one back off Tufts first year starter Aly Moskowitz (Westfield, NJ) in the third. Junior catcher Bridget Engwer (Wrentham, MA) led off with a walk and scored on a bunt by sophomore CF Jordan McDermott (East Bridgewater, MA). However, Tufts responded with two more in the bottom of the third making it 7-1. Sophomore CF Lizzy Iuppa (Paramus, NJ) drew a bases-loaded walk and Beinecke recorded her third RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly.
Bridgewater freshman starter Meghan Dunn (Colchester, CT) got into a rhythm for her final three innings, not allowing another Tufts hit. The Bears scored once in the fourth when senior 2B Lauren Cucinotta (Franklin, MA) hit a one-out single and was plated by a base hit from junior DP Heather McPherson (Mansfield, MA). After a lead-off single in the sixth by junior Tracey Sanko (Windsor, CT) led to an unearned run, Bridgewater crept within 7-4 when pinch runner Stephanie Burns (North Attleborough, MA) stole two bases and scored on a wild pitch in the top of the seventh.
With the potential tying run on deck, Moskowitz got the final out on a fly ball to center. She improved to 4-0 overall, allowing five hits and four walks while striking out two. Tufts senior Casey Sullivan (Berlin, CT) was the only batter with two hits in the game, and she was smooth as silk while handling seven chances at shortstop. Sophomore 3B Mira Lieman-Sifry (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY) scored twice. Tufts improved to 11-7 with their fourth win the last five games.
Dunn (4-4) allowed six hits and five walks while striking out two for the Bears, who dropped to 8-12 with their third straight loss