One For The Record Books

Following a perfect game by senior Jodie Moreau, Tufts' Women's Softball team clinched its second straight NESCAC Championship title.

Medford/Somerville, Mass. [05.06.02] -- By any measure, this has been a season for the record books. On Sunday morning, Tufts' Women's Softball team clinched its second straight NESCAC title, with a 2-0 win over Williams. The victory -- which secured Tufts' sixth straight NCAA Tournament berth -- came less than 48 hours after senior Jodie Moreau continued her record-setting season with a perfect game against Amherst.

   "I think we were all on a mission to get back to the NCAAs, and get to the World Series," coach Kris Talon told the Berkshire Eagle. "We felt we were the best team for sure, and we just had to prove it."

   And prove it they did, thanks in large part to Moreau's dominant pitching.

    "In the New England Small College Athletic Conference [NESCAC] Tournament, Moreau stepped up her game (if that's possible)," reported the newspaper. "She threw a five-inning perfect game on Friday, beating Amherst 8-0 in a five-frame, mercy rule game. Yesterday, [Williams] had Moreau on the ropes several times, but she pitched out of jams to notch her second consecutive shutout. Moreau hasn't lost since April 11."

   With 16 victories, 12 complete games and seven shutouts, Moreau has left her mark on Tufts' softball team -- which is now ranked 8th in the country.

   "The Tufts record book, at least in the pitching department, is going to be renamed the Jodie Moreau book," reported the Berkshire Eagle. "Her name is everywhere, and she's obliterated several records."

   Moreau holds the records for most career appearances (89), most innings pitched (509.1), most strike outs (407), career wins (57), wins in a season (19 this year), career shutouts (24) and shutouts in a season (10).

   While it is still too early to tell where she'll stand on Tufts' career earned run average list, the senior ranks in the national top 10 with her 0.51 mark.

   But Moreau isn't the only one setting new records.

   According to The Boston Globe, senior first baseman Tiffany Trahan set new records for career total bases (243) and career runs-batted-in record this year, driving in her 104th RBI against Bates.

   Teammate Lis Drake -- a junior catcher -- set new records for single-season home runs (9) and career home runs (24).

   The Globe also reported that coach Kris Herman passed the 300 win mark this season, adding yet another highlight to her 15-year coaching career at Tufts.

   "I think what helped the most was that we played together as a team," Moreau told the Berkshire Eagle, describing the team's performance during the NESCAC Championship.

   Sunday's win secures Tufts' sixth-straight berth in the NCAA Tournament.