CLERMONT, Fla. – The Swarthmore College softball team increased its win streak to seven with a pair of shutout victories at The Spring Games on Thursday. The Garnet blanked Utica University 2-0 before no-hitting Nichols College 19-0 in five innings.
Lilly Goldberg conceded just two hits in a complete-game shutout of the Pioneers before
Lane Barron,
Iris Castor, and
Mackenzie Roberts combined for the no-hitter against the Bison. The trio totaled seven strikeouts and allowed just two baserunners on a walk and an error.
Offensively, Swarthmore pounded out 21 runs on 19 hits.
Iris Barone went 5-for-6 with two RBI, two stolen bases, and three runs. She became the program's all-time leader in runs scored, surpassing former teammate
Olivia McClammy.
Emilee Espinoza hit 4-for-6 with a triple, two RBI, three walks, a stolen base, and three runs.
Regan Valenzuela went 4-for-7 and totaled one double, four RBI, one walk, one stolen base, and four runs.
Avery McClure drove in three and scored four times.
SWARTHMORE 2, UTICA 0
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Garnet had their opportunities early but struggled to get back into rhythm after a day off, leaving the bases loaded in each of the first three innings. Swarthmore did push a run across in the third but it came courtesy of a Utica error.
- The Garnet increased their lead to two in the fifth with Barone recording an RBI single to right. The cushion was all Goldberg needed as she dominated in the circle. The sophomore allowed just four baserunners on two hits and two walks while striking out a season-high eight batters to earn her fifth win of the year.
GARNET LEADERS
Barone: 2-3, 2 SB, RBI
Goldberg: W, 7.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 8 K
SWARTHMORE 19, NICHOLS 0
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Swarthmore wasted no time in taking control of the game, going off for 12 runs in the opening frame. The Garnet sent 17 hitters to the plate, recorded nine hits and three walks, and capitalized on three Nichols errors. Valenzuela had the big play of the inning, smacking a bases-clearing, three-run double.
- Swarthmore picked up where it left off in the second, scoring six more runs on four hits and six walks.
Lia Fong drove in two runs with a single to highlight the barrage. The Garnet tallied their final run in the fifth on an Espinoza RBI triple.
- Meanwhile, Swarthmore's pitching staff shut down the Bison lineup. Nichols led off the first with a walk but then Barron and Castor combined to sit down nine straight hitters. After the lead-off batter in the fourth reached on an error, Castor retired the next three to close out her day. Roberts entered for the fifth and dismissed the Bison in order, the last two via strikeout, to finish off the combined no-no. It was the 13
th no-hitter in program history. The previous occurrence was a solo effort by Barron in 2024.
GARNET LEADERS
Barone: 3-3, RBI, 3 R
Valenzuela: 4-5, 2B, SB, 4 RBI, 4 R
Espinoza: 4-4, 3B, BB, 2 RBI, 3 R
McClure: 1-3, BB, 3 RBI, 3 R
Barron: 2.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 K
Castor: W, 2.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K
Roberts: 1.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K
UP NEXT
The Garnet (9-3) wrap up their spring break trip on Friday with games versus No. 7 East Texas Baptist University and Wesleyan University.
