Teams: Softball: Press Releases

Monday, March 23, 2009

RIPECKY, SANTONE EARN NESCAC HONORS AFTER TEAM'S UNDEFEATED RUN TO START SEASON

Izzie Santone

Maya Ripecky

MEDFORD -- The Tufts University softball team had its best start ever to a season with a 12-0 record during spring break week in California. Senior right fielder Maya Ripecky (Chicago, IL/Northside) and sophomore pitcher Izzie Santone (Madison, CT/Daniel Hand) produced remarkably during the trip. They have been named the New England Small College Athletic Conference's (NESCAC) first Player and Pitcher of the Week for the 2009 season today.

The entire team deserves credit for its 12-0 start, which included two extra-inning wins and four victories by two runs or less. However, Ripecky and Santone were on fire all week. Ripecky hit .525 (21/40) with a 1.000 slugging percentage including four doubles, three triples and three home runs. She batted in 15 runs and scored 13. Santone won six games and had a save, recording a 0.25 earned run average. She allowed one earned run and 22 hits in 36 innings.

In the season opener at Cal Lutheran on March 15, Santone pitched five innings allowing two hits and no runs for the win. Ripecky was 2 for 4 and scored a run as Tufts prevailed 12-6.  In game two at CLU, Ripecky went 2 for 3 with two runs and Santone earned a save in a 6-5 final. Tufts began Sun West Tournament play on March 16. Ripecky scored twice as the Jumbos won 6-5 in eight innings against Rio Grande. Against host Chapman later in the day, Santone pitched a four-hit shutout and Ripecky was 2 for 4 with her first home run and four RBI.

On Tuesday, Ripecky hit a two-run home run to tie Tufts with Greenville 6-6 in the sixth inning. She then drove home the eventual game-winning run in the eighth inning on a fielder's choice,  finishing 2 for 4 with three RBI in the 9-6 win. Santone collected both pitching wins on Wednesday in tight games against Puget Sound (4-2) and Doane (5-3). She went the distance against Puget Sound, allowing her only earned run of the week. Against Doane, she pitched five innings of one-hit relief and Tufts came from behind to win.

Santone came back on Thursday to throw four scoreless innings in a 6-0 victory against Holy Names. Ripecky was 3 for 4 with three RBI in a 9-2 victory against Hamilton College later that day. On their final day at Sun West, Ripecky hit her third home run and finished 2 for 4 with three RBI and two runs scored in a 12-5 win over Hamilton again. Santone put an exclamation point on the week, pitching a two-hit shutout against Hamline in the Sun West finale. She struck out six and walked one. Ripecky was 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI in the game.

The NESCAC Rookie of the Year in 2008, Santone earned the conference's weekly pitching award for the second time in her career. Ripecky, who hit a three-run home run in the conference championship game against Wesleyan last spring to give Tufts the lead for good, received the recognition for the first time.

Tufts opens its home and NESCAC East Division schedules this weekend against Bates College at Spicer Field.

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