Heartbreak for Patriots following 4-0 loss

MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The Patriots run toward a national championship ended Sunday thanks to a dominating pitching performance and two key home runs in a 4-0 loss to the Tufts University (Mass.) Jumbos.

Kate Bell and Jessie Bross embrace after the Patriots 4-0 loss to Tufts University at the NCAA Div. III World Series. The loss was the Patriots’ second of the tournament, which eliminates them. The Patriots finished the season with a 39-10 record, as well as being American Southwest Conference and West Regional Champions. Photo by Clay Ihlo

Tufts’ Izzie Santone pitched seven shutout innings in only 53 pitches, while Lena Cantone and Casey Sullivan each hit a two-run home run to end the Patriots season at 39-10.

“Our bats came alive today, a lot more like we are capable of doing. That’s the kind of power we have,” Tufts coach Cheryl Milligan said. “We didn’t have as many base hits as we are used to getting, but we swung the bats better in key situations.”

The Patriots had an opportunity to jump on the board first when they had runners on first and second base in the bottom of the first. However, Santone locked down and got out of the inning and after that, the Patriots never got anything going.

Santone held the power-hitting Patriots lineup to a tournament-low four hits. “She pitched a great game and hit her spots about 95 percent of the time today. She’s pitched as well as we’ve seen her pitch all year,” Milligan said. “Her change-up was great, and her ability to throw a change-up at any point in the count is such a powerful weapon.”

With the win, Santone improved to 21-1 on the season for a Tufts team that is 44-2 on the season. “Texas-Tyler has good hitters and they went up there and had good swings on every pitch. It’s just a matter of keeping your cool and throwing to your spot and having a little bit of luck,” Santone said. “They were swinging early, and that contributed to the low pitch count.”

The Jumbos got on the board first when Sullivan hit her two-run home run over the center field fence off Patriots’ Stacy Shepherd in the second inning. In the top of the fourth inning, the Jumbos added more runs when Cantone hit a sharp line-drive down the right field line that barely cleared the fence inside the foul pole.

After that home run, Shepherd came out of the game and was replaced by senior Lauren Scruggs. “I don’t think Stacy was quite as sharp this weekend as she was at regionals but gosh we would not be here if it was not for her and the streak she went on,” Patriots coach Mike Reed said.

Scruggs went on to shut down the Jumbos’ lineup for the next 3 2/3 innings, giving the Patriots as much of a chance to come from behind. Twice on Sunday the Jumbos’ defense turned double plays, which both coaches agreed is rare to see in softball.

Tufts leads the nation in turned double-plays and the one’s turned in the fourth and sixth innings ended any momentum the Patriots were building in those at-bats. “Our defense was great.

There was one inning where I walked the first batter, and as a pitcher, 90 percent of the time your walk the leadoff hitter that runner scores,” Santone said. “As a pitcher, it is great to know that if you give up a hard ground ball up the middle, your defense can turn it into a double-play, it really helps you as a pitcher.

It’s great to know that little mistakes like that can be covered by your defense.” With the win, Tufts advanced to play Gustavas Adolphus College (Minn.) later Sunday night with the winner moving on to play Coe College at noon, Monday.