GALLOWAY, N.J. – The Swarthmore College softball team earned a pair of exciting victories on Thursday, defeating No. 19 Stockton University on the road 4-1 and 4-3 (8 inn.).
Lilly Goldberg shut out the Ospreys through six innings on the way to her 12
th complete game in the opener. The Garnet then earned an extra-inning win in the nightcap.
Emilee Espinoza had the go-ahead hit and finished 3-for-6 with two RBI over the two contests.
Iris Barone recorded three hits on the day. She became the program's all-time hits leader in game one. The senior's 188 career hits surpassed former teammate
Olivia McClammy's mark of 186 set just a year ago. Barone registered a triple and scored a run.
SWARTHMORE 4, STOCKTON 1
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The teams combined for just two hits through the first three innings as the pitchers dominated the action. Swarthmore finally broke through in the fourth, scoring twice.
Regan Valenzuela walked with one out then
Linnaea Rasmussen and
Kate Borza hit back-to-back singles to load the bases. Espinoza was hit by a pitch to force in a run then Rasmussen came home on a fielder's choice.
-
Elisabeth O'Connor doubled the Garnet advantage in the sixth with a two-out, two-run homer. It was the first career home run for the junior. Goldberg kept Stockton off the board for six innings before the Ospreys spoiled the shutout bid with an RBI groundout in the seventh. However, the sophomore hurler was able to close out the victory without further damage.
GARNET LEADERS
Barone: 2-4, SB
O'Connor: 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, R
Goldberg: W, 7.0 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 3 BB, 3 K
SWARTHMORE 4, STOCKTON 3 (8 INN.)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Swarthmore threatened to opening the scoring in the second, putting runners at second and third with one out. However, a strikeout and pop-up ended the inning. It was then Stockton who struck first in the third, scoring on an error for a 1-0 lead.
- The Garnet tied it up in the fifth. Barone tripled with one away and Valenzuela followed with a single down the left-field line. Swarthmore then went in front in the sixth on an RBI single by Goldberg. However, the Ospreys responded on a groundout in the bottom of the inning to tie it up at two.
- Stockton had runners on the corners with two outs in the seventh and a chance to win the game. However,
Lane Barron got a ground-ball out to send the game into extras. Rasmussen started the top of the eighth on second base and was sacrificed to third by Borza. Espinoza then singled up the middle to put the Garnet ahead. After another sacrifice by
Serafina Tinio,
Ava Babcock recorded a sac fly to give Swarthmore a two-run cushion.
- The Ospreys led off their half of the eighth with a single to put runners at the corners. A groundout scored a run and made the score 4-3. Stockton had runners at first and second with two outs when a single was sent to center field. The tying run came around third and headed for home but Barone came up firing and sent a perfect throw in to Babcock, who applied the tag at the plate to complete a climatic ending to the contest.
GARNET LEADERS
Barone: 1-4, 3B, R
Valenzuela: 1-4, RBI
Espinoza: 3-4, RBI
Goldberg: 1-3, RBI
Lane Barron: W, 8.0 IP, 3 R, 1 ER
UP NEXT
The Garnet (26-8, 11-1 Centennial) heads to Washington College on Tuesday for a conference doubleheader.
