SWARTHMORE, Pa. – The No. 22 Swarthmore College softball team opened its Centennial Tournament run with an 8-0 victory over Haverford College in five innings on Thursday.
The top-seeded Garnet will take on the second seed Muhlenberg College on Saturday with a chance to advance to the championship series. Swarthmore is the host for the remainder of the tournament on Saturday and Sunday.
The Garnet jumped on the fifth-seeded Fords early with two runs in the opening frame. Swarthmore tacked on a run in the fourth then piled on five runs in the fifth to end the game early.
Lilly Goldberg pitched all five innings for her 15
th complete game and fourth shutout of the season. She allowed four hits and struck out four without walking a batter.
Emilee Espinoza led the Garnet offense, going 4-for-4 with three RBI and two runs.
Iris Barone and
Elisabeth O'Connor tallied two hits apiece with O'Connor driving in a pair and Barone scoring three times.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Barone led off the bottom of the first with a single up the middle. She then stole second and scored on a one-out single by Espinoza. It was the 100
th career stolen base for the Garnet's all-time leader. With two outs,
Linnaea Rasmussen hit an infield single and
Kate Borza was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Ava Babcock then drew a walk to force in a run and make it 2-0 Swarthmore.
- The Garnet loaded the bases again with one out in the second but Haverford was able to escape the inning unscathed. The Fords threatened to cut into the deficit in the fourth, putting runners at first and third with just one out. However, Goldberg got a pop-out and a foul-out to keep Haverford off the board.
- In the fourth, Barone again singled up the middle to start the inning. She was sacrificed to second by
Regan Valenzuela and Espinoza drove the senior in again with a single to up the Swarthmore advantage to three. The Fords looked to spoil the shutout in the fifth, getting a runner to third but Goldberg notched a strikeout to end the frame.
- Borza opened the bottom of the fifth with a walk.
Lia Fong doubled with one out and both Borza and Fong came home on a double by O'Connor. O'Connor moved up to third on the throw home and scored on an error to make the score 6-0. Barone walked then swiped second and third before touching the plate on a two-out base hit by Espinoza.
Avery McClure followed with an infield single then an error loaded the bases. Borza drew a walk to force in a run and end the contest.
GARNET LEADERS
Barone: 2-3, 3 SB, BB, 3 R
Espinoza: 4-4, 3 RBI, 2 R
O'Connor: 2-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI, R
Goldberg: W, 5.0 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 4 K
UP NEXT
The Garnet (31-8) take on Muhlenberg on Saturday.
