SALISBURY, MD - The No. 25 Swarthmore College softball team split its opening day double-header against No. 18 Salisbury and TCNJ on Saturday. The Garnet fell to the host 13-5, before bouncing back with a 4-2 triumph over the Lions.

Emilee Espinoza started off her season strong, going 4-for-6 at the plate with a run and one RBI. Iris Barone also had a solid day, ripping a pair of doubles with three hits and two RBI. 

Lilly Goldberg opened her sophomore campaign with a complete-game victory. She allowed two runs with three strikeouts in a victory over TCNJ. 

#18 SALISBURY 13, SWARTHMORE 5
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Garnet escaped a first-inning jam against the Seagulls after allowing a pair to reach base on a single. Lane Barron punched out the first batter looking, while Rae Barron caught a runner stealing for the second out. Swarthmore then stranded a Salisbury runner at third base with an inning-ending flyout. 

- Salisbury got back at the Garnet in the second inning, hanging a crooked eight runs on seven hits and an error. Swarthmore then countered with five runs in the third. Elisabeth O'Connor started the rally with a one-out walk, while Barone followed with a double. Regan Valenzuela then plated the first run with a single, before Barone came home on a well-executed double steal. Later in the inning, Valenzuela stole home for the team's third run, while Linnaea Rasmussen knocked home two more runs with a double, making it 8-5. 

- In the bottom of the third, the Seagulls added on with a two-run double to build a five-run cushion. Swarthmore then silenced Salisbury in the fifth with three quick outs after allowing the first two batters to reach scoring position. 

- Later in the game, Salisbury piled on with three more runs. Swarthmore loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth, but were retired on a groundout to end the threat. Salisbury added one more in the bottom of the frame to put away the Garnet. 

GARNET OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Espinoza: 2-for-2, R, 2 SB
Rasmussen: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 2B


TCNJ 2, SWARTHMORE 4
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Goldberg retired the side with two strikeouts in the first inning. She also faced the minimum in the second and third to keep the Lions off the board. 

- The Lions rallied for a pair of runs in the fourth inning to take a 2-0 lead. Goldberg escaped further damage with a pair of flyouts to end the frame. 

- In the fifth inning, Ava Babcock doubled home Swarthmore's first run to cut its deficit in half. Barone then tied the game with a sacrifice fly to left field, making it 2-2.

- Following a pair of scoreless innings from Goldberg, the Garnet took their first lead with two runs in the seventh. Babcock opened the rally with a walk, and then came home to score the go-ahead run on a Barone double to left field. Espinoza then doubled home an insurance run to extend Swarthmore's lead, 4-2.

- Goldberg shut down the Lions in the seventh with a 1-2-3 frame. The sophomore induced a groundout and a pair of flyouts to end the game. 

GARNET OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Barone: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 2B, 3B
Espinoza: 2-for-4, RBI, 2B
Babcock: 1-for-2, RBI, R, 2B

GARNET PITCHING LEADERS
Goldberg (W, 1-0), 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO

UP NEXT
The Garnet (1-1) wrap up their weekend with rematches against Salisbury and TCNJ on Sunday.