SALISBURY, MD - The No. 25 Swarthmore College softball team wrapped up opening weekend with a split against The College of New Jersey and No. 18 Salisbury University on Sunday. The Garnet toppled the Lions for the second-straight day with a 5-4 victory, but fell to the Seagulls in the finale, 6-0. 

Iris Barone helped lead the Garnet to victory over the Lions with a 3-for-3 performance, while stealing three bases. Emilee Espinoza and Linnaea Rasmussen both drove home a pair of runs in the triumph.

TCNJ 4, SWARTHMORE 5
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Barone helped generate the game's first run with her legs. The senior reached on a bunt single, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and then beat out a play at home on an Espinoza grounder.

- Lane Barron coasted through the opening three innings. The senior retired the side in the first, and then erased a one-out, double with back-to-back strikeouts in the second. She then escaped trouble with an inning-ending flyout in the third after allowing a couple two-out baserunners. 

- Swarthmore had its first two runners reach base in the third inning. Elisabeth O'Connor reached on an error and Barone singled to left, the speedy duo then advanced with a two-out double-steal, but were left stranded to end the threat. 

- TCNJ tied the game with a run in the fifth inning, but the Garnet answered back with three in the bottom half. Espinoza singled home the go-ahead run after Barone and Regan Valenzuela reached with one out. Rasmussen then plated another run with a single before Ava Babcock worked a walk to plate one more, 4-1. 

- The Lions clawed back with three runs in the sixth inning to even the score. Iris Castor helped limit the damage with a strikeout and a flyout to strand a pair in scoring position. 

- Barone caused more trouble for the Lions in the bottom of the sixth. The senior singled with one out and then advanced to second on her third stolen base of the game. Barone came home to plate the winning run on a Rasmussen single to left.

- Lilly Goldberg earned the save with a 1-2-3 seventh inning. The sophomore struck out the first and third batters, while inducing a pop up for the second out. 

GARNET OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Barone: 3-for-3, 3 R, 3 SB
Espinoza: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, BB
Rasmussen: 2-for-4, 2 RBI

GARNET PITCHING LEADERS
Barron: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
Castor (W, 1-0) 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 SO
Goldberg (SV, 1) 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 SO


#18 SALISBURY 6, SWARTHMORE 0
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Salisbury put up three runs in the second inning on a pair of hits and an error. Both runs went unearned on Goldberg's line. 

- O'Connor opened the third inning with a double, but made the final out on the base paths after an Espinoza single to left field. The Seagulls then added another run in the bottom half, expanding their lead to 4-0.

- Swarthmore loaded the bases after making two quick outs to open the fourth. Kate Borza and Rae Barron prolonged the inning with singles, while Serafina Tinio worked a walk to load the bases. However, the Garnet were unable to get a run across in the frame. 

- The Seagulls put the game away with two runs in the fifth inning. The Garnet loaded the bases in the sixth, but made the final out on a flyout. 

GARNET OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Barone: 1-for-4, SB

UP NEXT
The Garnet (2-2) return to action in Florida on spring break. Swarthmore opens its 10-game swing against Lebanon Valley College and Calvin University on Saturday.