SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The No. 25 Swarthmore College softball team captured its second Centennial Conference championship in program history with a 9-2 victory in a winner-take-all contest versus No. 17 Gettysburg College on Wednesday. It is the Garnet's second title in three years after winning it all in 2023.

The second-seeded Bullets forced the decisive game with a 5-2 win earlier in the day over top-seeded Swarthmore. However, the Garnet proved resilient, fighting back in the nightcap. Swarthmore took a one-run lead in the third before putting up a four-spot in the fourth. After Gettysburg closed the gap to three (5-2), the Garnet scored twice each in the fifth and seventh innings to pull away and claim the crown.

Emily Bertrand was named the Centennial Tournament MVP for the second time in her career as she also garnered the honor when Swarthmore won the championship in 2023. Bertrand went 5-for-8 on the day with a double and three RBI. Over the Garnet's four playoff contests, the senior hit .533 with two doubles, six RBI, one run, and a 1.200 OPS.

Elisabeth O'Connor was 2-for-4 at the plate with a walk and three runs. Grace Taylor tallied three hits, two runs, and a stolen base. Jordan Jackson smacked a pair of doubles and knocked in three runs. In the pitching circle, Lilly Goldberg bounced back from a loss in the opening game and pitched a complete-game in the clincher. The rookie allowed two runs and eight hits while striking out five.

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SWARTHMORE 2, GETTYSBURG 5
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Gettysburg opened the scoring in the first inning with an RBI single up the middle. However, the Garnet overtook the lead with a pair in the bottom of the frame. Bertrand singled home the first run after Jackson collided with the catcher to plate the tying run. Lia Fong then drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI groundout, making it 2-1. 

- Goldberg erased a one-out double in the second to escape the third inning unscathed. The Bullets then rallied for three runs in the third on four hits and one error to build a two-run cushion, 4-2. 

- Iris Barone singled to open the third inning and then stole second with no one out. The speedster advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, but was left stranded with consecutive pop-ups to end the inning. 

- Swarthmore threatened in the fifth after Taylor singled to open the frame, and then advanced to second on a sacrifice. However, the Garnet were unable to bring their leadoff hitter home. 

- Gettysburg expanded its lead with a run in the sixth inning, pulling ahead by three runs. The Bullets maintained their lead and forced a game two, holding the Garnet scoreless for the final six innings after allowing a pair in the first. 

GARNET OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Bertrand: 1-for-3, RBI
McClammy: 1-for-3, R

GARNET PITCHING LEADERS
Goldberg (L, 16-4) 3.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO
Barron: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO

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SWARTHMORE 9, GETTYSBURG 2
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Swarthmore put two runners on in the opening frame with an Olivia McClammy walk and Bertrand single, but were unable to come through with a knock. 

- Bertrand maintained her hot bat, driving home the go-ahead run in the third inning. The Garnet loaded the bases after an O'Connor infield single, Jackson walk and a McClammy hit-by-pitch. Bertrand then singled through the left side to open the scoring, 1-0. 

- The Garnet broke the game open with a crooked number in the fourth. Jackson came through in the clutch with a two-out double, followed by a McClammy single, and a Bertrand double to drive home two more runs. Regan Valenzuela set the table with a lead-off walk, while O'Connor beat out a beautifully-placed bunt single to spark the rally. Swarthmore tallied four runs in the inning, taking a 5-0 lead.

- Gettysburg got a pair of runs back with a two-out, two-RBI double in the bottom of the fourth. However, Swarthmore responded with two in the fifth to regain a five-run advantage (7-2). The Garnet had runners on first and second with two outs and Barone brought both players in with a triple to the centerfield fence.

- Swarthmore posted two insurance runs in the seventh. Taylor singled and stole second before O'Connor walked. Jackson came up and smacked a double down the third-base line to plate Taylor. McClammy followed with a sacrifice fly that scored O'Connor.

- The Bullets managed a one-out single in the bottom half but Goldberg recorded a fly out and a strikeout to clinch the title.

GARNET OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Bertrand: 4-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI
Jackson: 2-for-4, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB

GARNET PITCHING LEADERS
Goldberg (W, 17-4) 7.0 IP, 2 R, 8 H, 0 BB, 5 K

UP NEXT
The Garnet (32-10) will find out their NCAA Tournament draw via a selection show on Monday.