SWARTHMORE, Pa.–The home opener for the Swarthmore College softball team (5-5) ended with a pair of defeats as the Garnet fell to the Crusaders 7-2 and 5-0 on Thursday, March 17.

In game one, the Crusaders limited the Garnet to four hits and took a 7-0 lead after the top of the sixth.

Swarthmore started a rally in the bottom half of the frame as Marit Vike led off with a walk, her second of the game. Elizabeth Curcio followed up with her second single and got to second with Vike safe at third. Sara Planthaber walked to load the bases before Christen Boas Hayes drove in two runs with a well-hit ball down the left field line to complete the scoring for Swarthmore.

Starting pitcher Emily Bowman fell to 2-2 on the season.

In the nightcap, the Garnet managed two hits behind singles from Vike and McKenzie Ward. Vike got into scoring position in the fourth with a base hit bunt and stole second with no outs. The freshman shortstop reached third with two down, but was stranded on a groundout. Freshman McKenzie Ward picked up the loss, her first of the season, in the complete-game effort in the circle.

The softball team travels to Rutgers-Newark for a nonconference doubleheader on Saturday, March 19. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.