Colby Softball tight with Tufts until sixth in loss

Robin Spofford had a hit and was perfect at second base in seven chances. (Dean Denis Photography)

WATERVILLE, Maine — Tufts University broke a 1-1 tie with five runs in the top of the sixth inning to pull out a 6-1 victory over Colby College in NESCAC East softball on Friday at the Colby Softball Field.

Tufts improves to 9-6 overall and 2-0 in the conference, while the Mules drop to 5-8 overall and 0-1 in the league. The Colby Baseball/Softball Complex will have a dedication ceremony Saturday at 10:45 a.m. and the softball doubleheader with Tufts begins at noon.

 

Erica County of Tufts and Julia Saul of Colby both pitched well until the Jumbos got the bats going in the sixth inning. County allowed five hits and struck out one, while Saul went 5.2 innings and had one strikeout and one walk. Tufts had seven of its 11 hits in the sixth inning.

 

Cassie Ruscz had two hits and drove in three runs for the Jumbos. Michelle Chisdak added a pair of hits, scored a run, and drove in a run. Samantha Sicilliano also had two hits and scored one run.

 

Tori Sansone led the Mules with a pair of hits. Robin Spofford added one hit and had five assists and two putouts at second base.

 

Colby got off to a fine start in the first inning. Mule center fielder Grace Farnkoff made a terrific diving catch on lead-off hitter Christina Raso in the top of the inning. Katie McLaughlin led off Colby’s half of the inning with a walk, stole second base, moved to third on a ground out by Spofford, and scored on a wild pitch.

 

The Mules kept the lead until the top of the fourth inning. Raso led off with a walk, moved to second on a single by Sicilliano, and scored on a single by Ruscz.

 

The Jumbos had the top of the order up in the sixth inning. Raso led off with a single and moved to third when Sicilliano doubled. The Mules did get one out before Ruscz ripped a two-run single to left field for a 3-1 margin. Colby got the second out of the inning, but Raven Fournier doubled to bring in pinch-runner Isabel Smokelin to make it 4-1. Chisdak doubled to bring in Fournier and Sarah Finnigan doubled to plate Chisdak for the final run.

 

Tufts 6, Colby 1

Tufts………………. 000 105 0 –  6 11  1

Colby College……. 100 000 0 –  1  5  0

Tufts – Erica County (W) and Michelle Chi; Sara Willner. Colby College – Julia Saul (L), Holly Lallis (6) and Skylar Labbe. 2B: Samantha Sicilliano (T), Raven Fournier (T), Michelle Chisdak (T), Sarah Finnigan (T).