SWARTHMORE, Pa. – The Haverford College softball team closed out its Centennial Conference schedule with a split against host Swarthmore College Tuesday. The Fords took the nightcap, 7-4, and the Garnet won Game 1 by a 5-2 score.
Already leading 1-0, Haverford (8-24, 4-12 CC) broke Game 2 open by putting up a three-spot in the top of the third. Beth Davis connected on a double that drove in Elizabeth Newman, who walked to start the inning. Laura Iwanyk drew a bases-loaded walk that allowed Davis to score from third. Maggie Cronin, the next hitter, singled home Candice Smith.
The Fords added two more runs in the fourth to take a 6-0 lead on sacrifice flies by Jen DiCandilo and Cronin.
Trailing 7-1, Swarthmore (7-23, 3-13 CC) rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning scoring three times. Krista Scheirer had the big swing of the frame with a two-run double.
Haverford's Brittany Stevenson came on in relief with the bases loaded and two outs. She got the only hitter she faced to line out to record the save.
Davis led the Haverford offense with three hits, two runs scored and one RBI. The Fords drew a program-record 15 walks. For Swarthmore, Kate Smayda had a pair of hits. Both teams had seven hits.
Maggie Cronin earned the win for the Fords. She went 6.2 innings, allowed four runs—but only one was earned—on seven hits and struck out two. Smayda took the loss. She lasted two innings and surrendered four runs (three earned) on three hits.
In the first game, the Fords took a 2-1 advantage with a pair of unearned runs in the fourth. Candice Smith scored the first run when Laina Gagliardi reached safely on an error. Iwanyk put Haverford in front after scoring from third on a wild pitch.
Swarthmore responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to retake the lead at 4-2. Elizabeth Cushing provided the inning's big blow with a two-run double. The Garnet tacked on the fifth run in the fifth on a wild pitch.
Offensively for Haverford, Newman and Davis had two hits each. Three different players had one hit for the Garnet. The Fords outhit the home team, 7-3.
Melissa O'Connor earned the win by tossing a complete game. She struck out four. Lisa Karmel battled in a losing effort allowing just one hit in 3.2 innings and fanning four. Karmel allowed two earned, and two unearned, runs and three walks.
Haverford wraps up the 2011 season with a non-conference doubleheader against Arcadia Wednesday, April 27 at Class of '95 Field starting at 3:30 p.m.