LEWISTON —  Kirsten Pelletier threw her second no-hitter of the season as the Bates defeated Colby 8-0 in five innings on Friday, clinching a spot in the eight-team NESCAC Softball Championship tournament.

Pelletier gave up only two walks and struck out 10 batters and lowered her earned-run average to 1.95. Pelletier also no-hit North Central (Minn.) over five innings in Bates’ season opener on March 6.

Bates’ 18th victory ties for the most in team history, matching the 18-12 2012 team and the 18-13 squad of 2001.

The Bobcats scored six of their eight runs in the bottom of the third. Caroline Bass scored on an error, Paige Ahlholm had a two-run double, Erin Murphy had a RBI single and two runs were unearned as Tori Fitzgerald grounded out in a fielder’s choice.

Julia Panepinto had RBI single in the fourth and she later scored in the inning on a Mary Collette pop out.

Baseball

Tufts 5, Bates 0

LEWISTON — R.J. Hall struck out 13 Bobcats over eight shutout innings and the Bates baseball team fell 5-0 to Tufts Friday afternoon at Leahey Field.  

Bates (13-13, 6-4 NESCAC) can still win the NESCAC East by sweeping Saturday’s home doubleheader with the Jumbos that gets underway at noon. If Tufts (16-13, 7-3 NESCAC) and Bates split Saturday’stwin bill, both teams would qualify for the playoffs but Tufts would win the East division.

Tufts scored twice in the top of the first as Will Burgess scored on a Malcolm Nachmanoff ground out. Casey Santos-Ocampo doubled that allowed Nick Falkson to score. 

Falkson scored on a wild pich in the eighth inning while Justin Mills had a two run triple in the inning.