SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Behind strong pitching as well as clutch hitting and base-running, the  Swarthmore College softball team (12-8, 1-4) earned an impressive 7-0 victory over defending Centennial Conference champion McDaniel in the first game of a doubleheader on a cold Tuesday afternoon from Clothier Field. The Green Terror (12-10, 1-3) rebounded to win the second game in five innings, 14-2.

In the first game, the Garnet bats pounded McDaniel ace and reigning Centennial Conference Pitcher of the Year Caroline Brehmn for seven runs on 11 hits. Senior Danielle Seltzer did the most damage, belting a two-run home run in the third inning that help open the flood gates. Senior Kate Smayda, senior Erin Curtis and freshman Suness Jones also added multiple hits in the first game. Smayda had the best day at the plate across the doubleheader, finishing four-of-seven with two RBI.

Junior Melissa O'Connor - who entered the day behind only Brehm among the conference leaders in ERA and strikeouts - won the battle of aces on the mound, tossing seven scoreless innings with six strikeouts.

Swarthmore wasted no time jumping on Brehm and the Green Terror, as Smayda reached second base on a lead-off double and was then driven home two batters later on a ground out by Nicole Aaron.

In the third, Seltzer added to the Swat lead with her team-leading third homer of the season. She smoked a two-out line-drive homer over the left-field fence to make it 3-0 Swarthmore.

With O'Connor still cruising, Swarthmore scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth thanks to some prolific base running and clutch two-out hitting. A two-out double steal by Curtis and Jones put Garnet runners on second and third. Immediately following the steals, Smayda laced a single up the middle to make it 5-0 Garnet.

In the bottom of the fifth, base-running again led to Garnet runs. Junior Rose Pitkin and Aaron executed a perfect double-steal of second and home to make it 6-0. The final blow came from off a Jones' double that brought Pitkin all the way home, bringing the game to the 7-0 final.

In the second game, five errors doomed the Garnet. The Green Terror scored 14 unearned runs off Swat starter Sarina Lowe to win in five innings. Maring and Armacost both slammed late-inning home runs for McDaniel.

Swarthmore's homestand continues Thursday against Widener (3:00 p.m.).