VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The No. 22 Swarthmore College softball team suffered a heartbreaking end to its season with losses to No. 3 Virginia Wesleyan, 5-1, and Messiah University, 1-0, on Friday afternoon. The Garnet wrapped up a historic season with a program record 33 wins to go along with its second Centennial Conference Championship in three years.
Swarthmore dropped a tight battle in the opener against No. 3 Virginia Wesleyan after falling victim to a four-run fifth inning. The Garnet offense threatened in the second, but were unable to come through with the bases loaded and one out.
The team's struggles continued into the second game, as they were unable to find the big hit in a 1-0 loss to the Falcons. Swarthmore out-hit its opponent 8-3, but were unable to execute with runners in scoring position. Lilly Goldberg was excellent in the circle, tossing six innings with one run allowed.
NO. 22 SWARTHMORE 1, NO. 3 VIRGINIA WESLEYAN 5
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Goldberg sent the Marlins down in order to open the first inning. Virginia Wesleyan then took the lead in the second with a triple and a double, before Goldberg escaped further damage with a strikeout and groundout.
- Swarthmore had the Marlins on the ropes in the bottom of the second, but couldn't capitalize with the bases loaded and one out. Regan Valenzuela walked to open the frame, while Elizabeth O'Connor beat out a bunt single and Iris Barone reached on a line drive to load the bases. The Garnet had a couple opportunities to break momentum in their favor, but popped out and then lined out on a hard-hit ball to end the inning.
- Goldberg erased a couple lead-off singles in the third and fourth innings to keep the Garnet within a run. Grace Taylor tried to get the offense going with a one-out single in the fifth, but was left standing at first to close the inning.
- Virginia Wesleyan busted the game open with a four-run fifth inning. Goldberg was charged with two runs in the inning, while Lane Barron surrendered two more in relief work, making it 5-0.
- Barron bounced back with a 1-2-3 sixth to keep the Garnet within striking distance. Kate Borza then worked a lead-off walk in the seventh, and then came home to score on a Marlins throwing error. Swarthmore advanced another runner into scoring position, but could only muster one run in the inning.
GARNET OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Taylor: 1-for-3
Bertrand: 1-for-3
GARNET PITCHING LEADERS
Goldberg (L, 18-5) 4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
NO. 22 SWARTHMORE 0, MESSIAH 1
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Swarthmore loaded the bases with one out in the second inning, but failed to get a run across. Emily Bertrand reached on a fielding error to open the inning, while Lia Fong singled up the middle and Valenzuela loaded the bases on a fielder's choice. However, the next two batters flew out to end the inning.
- Goldberg navigated out of a jam in the second after surrendering a one-out triple. The rookie registered back-to-back pop outs to end the inning unscathed. Swarthmore's offense advanced another runner into scoring position in the third, but were unable to find a two-out knock.
- The Garnet threatened in the fourth with two-out singles from Valenzuela and Taylor, but came up empty handed after a ground out to the pitcher. Goldberg then responded in the bottom half with a 1-2-3 frame to keep the game scoreless.
- With the game still scoreless, Swarthmore had another chance in the sixth with one-out singles from Fong and Valenzuela. The Garnet advanced a runner to third with two outs, but ended the threat with a hard-hit flyout.
- Messiah tacked on the game's lone run with a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the sixth. The Garnet then loaded the bases in the seventh with a pair of hits from Jackson and Bertrand, followed by a Borza two-out walk. However, the Garnet grounded out to the shortstop to end the game after the first basemen made an outstanding dig on a throw in the dirt.
GARNET OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Valenzuela: 2-for-3
Fong: 2-for-4
Jackson: 2-for-4
GARNET PITCHING LEADERS
Goldberg (L, 18-6) 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R
