Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Swarthmore College softball took advantage of costly mistakes and timely hitting against SUNYIT on Thursday morning to win 4-1, finishing the spring break week with a 2-6 record.

Game 2 vs. SUNYIT

Junior Chelsea Matzko and senior Melissa O'Connor led the way for the Garnet as six players garnered a hit in the game.

O'Connor pitched 5.2 innings, allowing just one run on two hits and striking out eight. After entering the week with a sub-.500 record, the Rockaway, New Jersey native, improved to 2-2 on the season, following a win against Gordon College two days ago.

Jessica Patterelli got things rolling early on for SUNYIT (2-6), as she doubled up towards left field to score the speedy Kierston Albertson from second base in the top of the first inning and it would be all the team mustered on the day.

Swarthmore (2-6) responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. The Garnet used two errors and a bloop single to the right side to take the first lead of the game. With two Garnet runners in scoring position on second and third, sophomore Christen Boas Hayes timed her swing for a 2-RBI single through the right side, roundings the runners home as Swarthmore took its first lead of the game with a 2-1 score. Two additional hits followed asSwarthmore loaded up the bases for an opportunity to extend the lead, but a ground out towards the short stop ended the inning and any chances to mount on an insurance run.

Freshman Jackie Pezzato stepped up to the plate and made it a two-run game with a one-out, solo home run towards left field for the 3-1 lead in the bottom of fifth. The pressure began to mount on as Swarthmore walked once and singled twice to load up the bases with one out on the board before a wild pitch by SUNYIT's Bridget Ashmore moved the runners up as senior Rose Pitkin scored the fourth run of the ballgame for the Garnet.


Game 1 vs. McKendree

The McKendree squad had little trouble with their bats as four players picked up multiple hits in a 9-0 rout of the Garnet.

Leading off the second inning with back-to-back singles the Bearcats would end the inning with two runs from Hanna Branch's sacrifice bunt and Caitlin Stredde scoring from third on a wild pitch.

Next inning, McKendree tallied three runs on three hits starting off with a two-out 2-RBI double from Katie Nauman – baserunners Jamie Doggendoff and Kate Mayes reached on a hit and walk, respectively. Stredde notched her second hit to bring Nauman home before the Garnet closed the inning down by three runs.

Junior Laurie Sellars and senior Nicole Aaron had back-to-back singles in the third, but the spark didn't last long as McKendree pitcher Susan Goetze finished the inning with two strikeouts.

McKendree rattled off a double from Branch and Kaiti Bowen's RBI single to open the fourth inning before Swarthmore switched pitchers, brining in sophomore Christen Boas Hayes to replace senior Sarina Lowe. Bowen found her way around the diamond on three stolen bases to make the score 7-0 with no outs. After two walks and a single from Jamie Doggendorf the bases were loaded – still no outs – the Garnet turned a double play at the plate and first base. Unfortuately, McKendree added another run in the inning to take a 8-0 lead.

Finishing with 12 hits on the day, the Bearcats scored once more in the fifth to end the game at a 9-0 score. Swarthmore batters were limited to just four hits and struck out at the plate nine times – including six from starter Goetz.

Swarthmore will pack up and travel back to Pennsylvania tomorrow morning as the Garnet prepare for their home opener on Sunday, March 16 for a doubleheader against Gwynedd Mercy University. The first pitch is slated for 12 p.m., weather permitting.