Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Rose Pitkin '14, Kate Smayda '13 and Danielle Seltzer '13 each recorded multiple hits and combined for four runs and eight RBIs in an 11-3 victory over Gordon to highlight a double-header split for the Garnet softball team on the final day of the Snowbird Tournament Thursday.  Division II Philadelphia University shut out Swarthmore in the Tournament finale 8-0 as the Garnet finished its spring break trip 6-2.

Game 1:

Playing in chilly and blustery conditions that felt more Pennsylvania than South Carolina, the Garnet jumped out front of the Fighting Scots in the top of the first inning.  Laurie Sellars '15 reached on an error and stole second leaving a runner in scoring position with two outs.  A red-hot Seltzer lined a single into center to move Sellars to third, and Pitkin followed with a triple to right for two RBIs and a 2-0 lead. 

Gordon wasted no time in responding assisted by a leadoff walk and error before Swarthmore cut-down a runner on a delayed steal 1-5-4 and starter Chelsea Matzko '14, who would earn the victory, struck out her opposite Skylar Bareford to retire the side.

After being held off the scoreboard in the second and third, Swarthmore sliced the game wide open in the fourth.  With one out, four consecutive singles by Emma Madarasz '10, Erin Curtis '13, Smayda and Sellars brought in one run and with two outs and a full count, Seltzer sent the carousel spinning with a curling line-drive into the left field corner to clear the bases and put Swarthmore in front 6-1.  Pitkin followed with a looping single down the left-field line to drive in Seltzer and the Garnet led 7-1. 

Gordon pulled two back in the bottom of the fourth with two walks and three singles, but Swarthmore broke free again in the top of the fifth with four more runs to make the differential eight.  Madarasz reached on a leadoff error and singles from Curtis and Smayda loaded the bases for pinch-hitter Casey Schreiner '16, who grounded into a fielder's choice with everyone reaching safely when Madarasz beat the throw from second home.  A Nicole Aaron '14 groundout plated the ninth run of the morning and Pitkin continued her explosive morning with a two-RBI single to center to score the final two runs of the game.

Christen Boas Hayes '16, who came on in relief of Matzko with one out in the bottom of the fourth, recorded four of her five outs via the K to close out the contest and keep the Garnet perfect against Division III opponents. 

Game 2:

The Rams scored single runs in the first and the second, four in the third, and two in the fifth for the 8-0 final in Thursday's second game.

A pair of errors, on a grounder and on a throw, put Philadelphia University in front for good before the bats came out in a big way for the Rams.  In the second, opposing pitcher Sam Abromavage singled and moved to third on an Emilia Cantrell double before scoring on a wild pitch to double the advantage.

The third was the damaging frame for the Garnet as Abromavage came through again off Swarthmore starter Melissa O'Connor '14 with a two-RBI double.  The next batter Mollie Burrell followed with a line-drive homerun to left center to make the score 6-0.  In the fifth, an Abromavage homer and Garnet throwing error brought in the final runs. 

Pitkin, Matzko, and Aaron recorded the three Garnet hits in the game.

Swarthmore returns north for Tuesday's home-opener against Widener as part of the annual 320-Challenge between the two schools.  First pitch for Game 1 is scheduled for 3PM with Game 2 to follow.