Box Score

CLERMONT, Fla. -- Cassie Ruscz singled home the go-ahead run in the top of the 7th and Allyson Fournier shut down the side in the bottom of the frame to give No. 1 Tufts University an 8-7 victory over the University of New England on Saturday afternoon (Mar. 14) at the Dot Richardson Spring Softball Games hosted by the U.S. National Training Center.

Fournier retired the last five from UNE (4 strikeouts) to get the win, entering the game with one out and runners at the corners in the 6th after the Nor'easters plated three runs to tie things up (7-7). The three-time first team All-America selection posted a 6-inning, 15-strikeout no hitter in the season opener earlier in the day for the two-time reigning national champions.

The Jumbos (2-0), who were out-hit 11-10 in the contest, received three-hit performances and a combined six runs from Christina Raso and Michelle Cooprider. Ruscz had a pair of hits, including a 3rd-inning home run two batters after Raso went deep to slide Tufts into a 5-4 lead. Gracie Marshall also had two RBI. Erica County surrendered two earned runs while striking out four over the initial 5 1/3 innings.

For UNE (1-1), Sydney Helmbrecht went 3-for-4 and Amanda Vallante had a two-RBI single in the last half of the 2nd to give the Nor'easters a 4-3 edge. Katelyn Austin took the loss in two innings of relief work.


Earlier in the day: UNE 6, MCLA 2