Softball Rallies For 4-3 Win Over Hope, Falls to Tufts 8-0 in Florida

CLERMONT, Fla. -- Wellesley College softball bounced back from an 8-0 setback to No. 5 Tufts University in their opening game to defeat Hope College, 4-3, in a thrilling game two on the Blue's second day at Hancock Park in Clermont. Wellesley is now 2-2 on the season.

Tufts 8, Wellesley 0 - 6 innings

Junior Cassie Ruscz (Wolcott, Conn.) hit a pair of home runs and senior Erica County (Arlington, Mass.) tossed a six inning shutout, striking out five while surrendering just one hit, as the Jumbos rolled to an 8-0 victory over the Blue.

Sophomore Amanda Manning (Durham, Calif.) recorded Wellesley's only hit in the fourth inning, leading off the inning with a single up the middle. However, the Blue were unable to take advantage of the base knock as they ultimately stranded two runners on base to end the inning.

Ruscz supplied all the run support County would need in the first inning with a towering home run to deep centerfield, plating a pair of runs to give the Jumbos a 3-0 advantage after sophomore Raven Fournier (Springfield, Mass.) drove home the first Tufts' run with an RBI triple to right.

The Jumbos added a fourth run in the second inning thanks to an RBI double from senior Christina Raso (Burlington, Mass.), before Ruscz sent the ball over the centerfield fence for her second homer of the game in the third inning. Ruscz's solo shot made the score 5-0 at the time.

The Jumbos carried the lead into the bottom of the sixth inning before adding three more runs to walk-off with an 8-0 win in six innings. Raso doubled to left center to drive home junior Carrie Copacino (Newton, Mass.). Raso then traded places with Fournier, as the sophomore smacked a double of her own. The Jumbos would end the game later in the inning when Fournier came around to score on a Raina Galbiati (Boulder, Colo.) RBI single.

Blue starter Julia Warner (Kenmore, Wash.) went three innings, surrendering five runs. Madeline Bianchi (Lakeville, Minn) came on in relief to strike out two in 2.2 innings and was charged with the game's final three runs.

Wellesley 4, Hope 3

The Blue scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally for a 4-3 victory over Hope. Junior Anna Pisac (Snohomish, Wash.) and first year Veronica Locher (Walnut Creek, Calif.) each recorded two hits and Bianchi pitched a complete game for Wellesley, striking out six to improve to 2-1 on the year.

Wellesley took a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, when Pisac ripped an RBI double to right center to score Carly Bresee (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), after the senior reached base on a hit by pitch to lead off the game.

The game remained a 1-0 contest until the top of the fifth inning when the Flying Dutch jumped out in front, 2-1. Junior Sammi Adams (Griffith, Indiana) doubled to left center to open the inning before sophomore Sierra Mutschler (Wayland, Michigan) hit her first home run of the season over the left centerfield fence. Sophomore Hayley Reitsma (Grand Rapids, Mich.) followed with a single but Bianchi was able to work her way out of the frame, recording a pair of strikeouts to keep the Blue within one.

Locher delivered a base knock to open the fifth but the next three Blue batters went in order to send the game to the sixth. Hope got a runner on base in the top half of the sixth but were unable to plate an insurance marker as the game moved to the bottom of the inning.

Wellesley came to life in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs on three hits to take a 4-2 advantage. Manning opened the inning with a walk, before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt from junior Ashtyn Coleman (Scottsdale, Ariz.). Manning then shifted to third on a single from Pisac, as Pisac eventually snuck into second when the throw to cut down Manning failed to reach the third base bag in time.

With two on and one out, junior Kendra Coleman (Scottsdale, Ariz.) dropped down a squeeze bunt, reaching first and scoring Manning when the Blue sophomore beat the play at the plate. With the focus on the play at home, Coleman took off for second, drawing the throw and allowing Pisac to take off down the third base line. Pisac was then awarded home on a collision with Reitsma near the plate, as a throw returned from second in an attempt to stop Pisac from scoring the go-ahead run.

With the score at 3-2, Locher hit a single into left to move Kendra Coleman to third. The Blue again dropped down a bunt, this time off the bat of sophomore Ines Borromeo (Muntinlupa, Philippines). Borromeo beat the ensuing throw at first, as Kendra Coleman scored the fourth Wellesley run of the game to make the score 4-2.

Reitsma homered to lead off the top of the seventh, immediately pulling Hope to within one. A pair of singles from the Flying Dutch eventually put runners in scoring position with two outs. However, Bianchi once again pitched around trouble, as she induced a ground ball to first to end the game.

Wellesley returns to Hancock Park on Wednesday, March 23, for games with Scranton (9:00 AM) and Oswego St. (1:00 PM).