Fournier pitches no-hitter as No. 6 Tufts tops Bowdoin 3-0

[jonriv]

BRUNSWICK, Maine – Sophomore Allyson Fournier struck out 17 batters and allowed no hits, leading No. 6 Tufts to a 3-0 win against Bowdoin on Friday afternoon.

Tufts improved to 18-2 (4-0 NESCAC East) as Bowdoin fell to 13-7 (2-2 NESCAC) in the opening game of their weekend series. The teams will continue their series with a double-header Saturday afternoon.

While Bowdoin faced a dominant pitching performance from Fournier, Melissa DellaTorre frustrated the Tufts offense through the opening five innings. DellaTorre struck out four batters in the opening four innings, while only surrendering a pair of walks. Gen Barlow reached in the bottom of the first with a walk, but the offense was unable to advance the runner. On the mound for Tufts, Fournier proceeded to retire the Bowdoin lineup for the next five frames.

The Jumbos’ bats got their first hit off DellaTorre in the top of the fifth as Christina Raso led off the inning with a single up the middle. Tufts broke through in the sixth however, when Michelle Cooprider led off the frame by laying down a bunt on the first base line. A single to left field from Jo Clair gave Tufts a pair of runners and no outs. After forcing a fly out to left field, DellaTorre surrendered a three-run shot off the bat of Kayla Holland for the only runs of the game.

Bowdoin and Tufts traded 1-2-3 at bats, before the Polar Bears reached in the bottom of the seventh. A leadoff walk put Toni DaCampo on first before she advanced to second on a walk by Katie Gately. The Polar Bears looked to move the runners with a pop-up from Victoria Rusch that dropped behind the third baseman on the edge of the grass. Tufts shortstop Bri Keenan made a diving catch as the ball was about to drop in and preserved Fournier’s no-hitter.

The no-hitter was the second of the season for Fournier, the fifth in her career, and the first against Bowdoin since 1999. Claire reached base three times for Tufts, walking twice to go with her hit in the sixth.

[nescacball]

she went on to win Saturday in relief and then won her start in the second game of the dh and then came in on relief this afternoon to pick up a win over Eastern Conn State. 4 wins on the weekend . now stands 10-1 with a 0.44 era. Best DIII pitcher in the country

[jonriv]

Have seen her pitch since she was with the eliminators in tb. Just remember who her one loss is against.

[nescacball]

your coach was at the games today don't know if he was watching Wellesley or E.C.

[jonriv]

Probably Wellesley

Fournier is a tough pitcher with a NASTY rise ball