SWARTHMORE, Pa. – After falling to Case Western Reserve University earlier in the day, the No. 14 Swarthmore College softball team staved off elimination with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Muskingum University on Friday in the NCAA Regional.
The Garnet advance to Saturday's regional championship series for a rematch with the Spartans, who defeated Swarthmore in walk-off fashion, 9-8, earlier on Friday. The Garnet will have to defeat CWRU twice to capture the regional title.
Regan Valenzuela went 5-for-7 at the plate over the two contests with two walks and three runs scored.
Linnaea Rasmussen and
Avery McClure each tallied three hits. Rasmussen recorded a double, a walk, four RBI, and a run while McClure drove in two and scored twice.
Lilly Goldberg tossed a complete game to earn the win versus Muskingum, allowing just one run. She became the first pitcher in program history to record 20 wins in a season.
CASE WESTERN RESERVE 9, SWARTHMORE 8
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Spartans struck for three runs in the opening frame. CWRU scored on a wild pitch and blasted a two-run homer.
- Swarthmore got one back in the second. McClure led off with a single then Rasmussen and
Ava Babcock drew back-to-back walks to load the bases.
Lia Fong followed with a sacrifice fly to bring in McClure and the score was 3-1.
- The Spartans restored a three-run advantage with an RBI double in the bottom of the second. CWRU upped the margin to four (5-1) on an error in the fourth.
- The Garnet cut the deficit to one (5-4) with a three-spot in the fifth.
Iris Barone and Valenzuela hit back-to-back singles then
Emilee Espinoza drew a walk to load the bases. McClure came through with a base hit to left to plate Barone. Rasmussen later smacked a two-run single to left center to get Swarthmore within one.
- The Spartans answered with a pair of runs on a single in the fifth to lead 7-4. The Garnet then rallied to go ahead in the sixth. With one out, Barone hit an infield single and it was followed by walks from Valenzuela and Espinoza to load the bases. McClure and
Kate Borza both worked a free pass to force in two runs. Rasmussen then hit a two-run, go-ahead double to left to put Swarthmore on top 8-7.
- CWRU opened the bottom of the seventh with a single. After a sacrifice and a groundout, the Spartans were hit by a pitch before a walk made the bases full. CWRU then lined an 0-2 pitch up the middle to the right of the second-base bag. The ball was just out of the reach of a lunging
Elisabeth O'Connor as it went off the tip of her glove and into centerfield. The Spartans scored two runs on the play to walk off with the win.
GARNET LEADERS
Valenzuela: 2-3, 2 BB, 2 R
McClure: 3-3, BB, 2 RBI, 2 R
Rasmussen: 2-3, 2B, BB, 4 RBI
SWARTHMORE 2, MUSKINGUM 1
HOW IT HAPPENED
- It was a pitcher's duel in the nightcap as just one run was scored through the first five innings. Goldberg retired the first nine batters she faced but the Garnet offense was unable to capitalize on their opportunities, leaving seven runners on base through the first five.
- The Muskies got to Goldberg in the fourth. They led off with a single and stole second. The runner was sacrificed to third and scored on a squeeze bunt. Muskingum had a chance to add to its lead in the fifth, loading the bases with one out. However, Goldberg sat down the next two batters with a pop-out and a fly-out to get out of the jam and keep Swarthmore within one.
- The Garnet rode that momentum into the sixth and finally broke through to tie the game. Rasmussen started it off with a single and was sacrificed to second by
Kate Borza. After going to third on a groundout, Rasmussen scored the tying run on a clutch two-out single by
Lia Fong.
- The Muskies had an opportunity to go back in front in the bottom of the frame. They doubled with one out to put a runner in scoring position but the runner was thrown out at third on a fielder's choice back up the middle to Goldberg.
- Swarthmore took control in the seventh. Valenzuela singled with one away and went to second on a wild pitch. Espinoza followed with a base hit back up the middle to score Valenzuela and give the Garnet a 2-1 edge. Muskingum reached on an error to start the bottom of the seventh and the runner was sacrificed to second to put the tying run in scoring position. Goldberg shut the door, however, recording a fly-out before ending the game with a strikeout and keeping Swarthmore alive.
GARNET LEADERS
Valenzuela: 3-4, R
Espinoza: 2-4, RBI
Fong: 1-3, RBI
Goldberg: W, 7.0 IP, 1 R, 7 H, 0 BB, 2 K
UP NEXT
The Garnet (35-9) look to claim their first regional crown on Friday when they battle Case Western Reserve. First pitch is at 11 a.m.
