CLERMONT, FL. - The Swarthmore College softball team split its spring break opener against Lebanon Valley College and Calvin University on Saturday. The Garnet dropped its first game to the Dutchwomen 4-2, but held on for an 11-8 victory in the finale.

LEBANON VALLEY  4, SWARTHMORE 2
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Lebanon Valley brought across three runs in the first inning on four hits. Lane Barron then settled into the second inning with three-straight outs after allowing a leadoff single.

- Iris Barone started the third inning with a walk before stealing second with no outs. The senior speedster advanced to third on a groundout, and then plated the team's first run on a Emilee Espinoza sacrifice flyout, making it 3-1. 

- Barron retired the side in the fourth inning as the Garnet continued to chip away in the bottom half. Serafina Tinio led off the frame with a double and came around to score on an Elisabeth O'Connor single. 

- Barron shut down the Dutchwomen in the fifth for her final inning of work. The senior erased a leadoff walk after generating an inning-ending double play. 

- The Garnet threatened in the sixth inning with a pair of one-out singles from Rae Barron and Ava Babcock. Swarthmore eventually loaded the bases with two outs, but were unable to sneak a run across.

- Lebanon Valley doubled its lead with a run in the seventh inning. Swarthmore rallied with one-out singles from Avery McClure and Linnaea Rasmussen, but grounded into a double play to end the game. 

GARNET OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Espinoza: 2-for-3, RBI
O'Connor: 1-for-3, RBI, SB

GARNET PITCHING LEADERS
Barron: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO


CALVIN 8, SWARTHMORE 11
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Swarthmore got off to a fast start, bringing two runs across in the first inning. Rasmussen worked a bases-loaded walk to open the scoring, while Babcock flied out to left to bring across another run.

- The Garnet added two more in the second frame. O'Connor opened the inning with a double, before reaching home on an error. Barone, who walked in the innings's second plate appearance, came home to tally the team's fourth run on a Espinoza flyout. Lilly Goldberg continued to roll through Calvin's lineup in the opening two innings, preserving the team's 4-0 lead. 

- Espinoza singled home Barone and O'Connor in the third inning to build a six-run cushion. The Garnet then added another run in the fourth on a Barone sacrifice fly. 

- Goldberg exited the game after four-scoreless innings, but re-entered in relief after the Garnet pen ran into trouble in the seventh. Calvin rallied for eight runs on five hits in the frame to take its first lead, 8-7. 

- The Garnet offense responded in a big way, scoring three runs in the sixth inning. Tinio tied the game with an RBI double, while Barone brought home two runs after reaching on an error, creating a 10-8 Swarthmore lead. 

- Swarthmore added one final insurance run in the seventh on a Barone flyout. Goldberg then shut the door in the final two innings with a couple clean frames to close the game. 

GARNET OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Espinoza: 1-for-2, 2 RBI, R, BB
O'Connor: 2-for-5, 3 R, 2B

GARNET PITCHING LEADERS
Goldberg: (W, 2-1) 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO

UP NEXT
The Garnet (3-3) continue their spring break slate with Hiram College and Lake Forrest College on Monday.