SWARTHMORE, Pa. – The Swarthmore College softball team earned a pair of Centennial Conference wins on Tuesday, defeating rival Haverford College by 2-1 and 9-7 scores.
The opener was a pitcher's duel as both teams were held scoreless through five innings of play. The Garnet broke through for two runs in the sixth to take the lead before holding off the Fords in the seventh. The nightcap was a back-and-forth affair with both sides holding a lead of multiple runs before Swarthmore rallied for four runs in the fifth to take the advantage for good.
Iris Barone,
Elisabeth O'Connor,
Linnaea Rasmussen, and
Regan Valenzuela all tallied two hits for the Garnet. Valenzuela drove in three runs while O'Connor knocked in a pair. O'Connor also recorded a double and scored twice. Barone registered three runs and two stolen bases.
Lilly Goldberg pitched a complete game in the circle in game one, allowing just one run and three hits to earn her 12
th victory of the season.
Lane Barron was the winner in the second game, conceding just two earned runs.
Iris Castor tossed the final two frames to pick up her third save.
SWARTHMORE 2, HAVERFORD 1
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Neither side mustered a hit until Barone produced an infield single with one out in the bottom of the third. Haverford got its first hit on a lead-off bunt in the fourth but the game remained scoreless.
- In the bottom of the sixth, Barone drew a lead-off walk. Valenzuela reached on an error and there were runners on second and third after the play. Rasmussen then singled up the middle to bring in Barone and put Swarthmore in front. Valenzuela later scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-0.
- The Fords looked to rally in the seventh and started off with a solo homer just inside the left-field pole to cut the deficit in half. Goldberg retired the next two batters before a walk put the tying run on. However, the sophomore pitcher froze the Haverford hitter for a strikeout looking to finish off the win.
GARNET LEADERS
Barone: 1-2, BB, SB, R
Rasmussen: 1-2, BB, RBI
Goldberg: W, 7.0 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K
SWARTHMORE 9, HAVERFORD 7
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Garnet got off to a quick start with three runs in the first. Barone led off with a single, went to second on a groundout, and advanced to third on a Rasmussen base hit. Barone finished her trip around the bases on a sacrifice bunt.
Kate Borza recorded a single to plate Rasmussen while
Emilee Espinoza scored on a fielder's choice.
- The Fords got a run back in the second on a two-out single but Swarthmore increased the advantage with two in the bottom half. O'Connor started the frame with a single and scored on a Valenzuela base hit. Barone reached on an error and later came home on a fielder's choice to make it 5-1.
- Haverford rallied for a five-spot in the fourth to take its first lead of the day. The Fords tallied three hits and capitalized on two Garnet errors. The big hit came with two outs as a triple cleared the bases and turned a 5-3 deficit into a 6-5 edge for the visitors. Haverford upped the margin to two (7-5) on an RBI single in the fifth.
- Swarthmore was not deterred, however, as the Garnet responded themselves with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to flip the script once again. After the first two hitters were retired, the home team created some two-out magic by putting six consecutive batters on base. O'Connor smacked a two-run, game-tying double before a walk to Barone loaded the bases. Valenzuela came up and came through with a two-out, go-ahead single to center as Swarthmore went ahead 9-7.
- Castor came into the pitching circle for the sixth. After giving up a single, she sat down four in a row. The Fords then drew a walk with one out in the seventh but the rookie hurler got a groundball double play to secure the victory.
GARNET LEADERS
Valenzuela: 2-4, SB, 3 RBI
Espinoza: SB, 2 RBI, R
O'Connor: 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R
UP NEXT
The Garnet (24-8, 11-1 Centennial) have a showdown at No. 19 Stockton University on Thursday for their non-conference finale.
