Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Freshman Mary Olesnavich hurled a complete game to lead the Swarthmore College softball team to a convincing 10-1 victory over Wentworth in six innings on Tuesday, March 10 at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic. The Garnet ended the day with a 4-3 loss to Drew.
 
In the earlier game, Swarthmore plated at least one run in five of the six innings against the Leopards. After loading the bases in the top of the first, senior Christen Boas Hayes grounded into a fielder's choice to plate the first Garnet run. Sophomore Sara Planthaber then grounded out to third, plating senior Chelsea Matzko, and Boas Hayes scored on a wild pitch to give Swarthmore a quick 3-0 lead.
 
Swarthmore plated two more runs in the top of the second. Sophomore Anna Jensen belted an RBI double to left and scored two plays later on a Laurie Sellers groundout to second. With Olesnavich in control in the circle, the Garnet tacked on one run in the fourth and the fifth frames to pull away before adding three runs in the top of the sixth. Freshman Fran Reckers chipped an RBI single to left to plate the final Garnet run, as the game was called after six due to the eight-run rule.
 
Olesnavich improved to a perfect 2-0 in her young collegiate career for Swarthmore by allowing only two hits and one run. She also struck out five and issued only one walk over six frames. Heather Pinkston of Wentworth (0-1) suffered the loss after getting lit up for six hits and 10 runs, including five earned, over 5.2 innings of work. She also issued seven walks.
 
In the second game, Drew (2-6) jumped out to a 4-0 lead by scoring once in the top of the first and three times in the third before Swarthmore attempted to rally. Matzko put the Garnet on the board by singling to center with the bases loaded and nobody out, but Ranger pitcher Amy Benedict got out of the major jam by inducing a popout and fanning the next two batters.
 
Swarthmore, however, did not go down without a fight and made one last valiant effort to come back in the bottom of the seventh. Reckers hit a leadoff single to the gap in right center to start the inning, and freshman Frankie Ponziani scored on a triple to center by Laurie Sellars with two outs. Sellars then came home on a wild pitch to make it a one-run game, but Benedict and the Rangers were able to escape with their second win of the day as the next Garnet batter flew out to left.
 
Benedict picked up the victory for Drew by going the distance in the circle. She yielded eight hits and three runs while striking out five and not issuing a walk. Boas Hayes suffered her first loss the season for Swarthmore after giving up six hits and four runs, including three earned, over 2.1 innings. Freshman Emily Bowman was impressive in 4.2 scoreless innings of relief, as she punched out six Ranger batters and allowed four hits to keep the Garnet within striking distance until the end.
 
Swarthmore (3-1) will play two more games tomorrow afternoon, beginning with a 1:00 p.m. matinee against Geneva.