HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College softball team opened the season with hot bats despite the chilly temperatures as it used a 25-hit afternoon to secure a sweep of a non-conference doubleheader against visiting Penn State-Abington at Class of '95 Field on Saturday afternoon. The Fords kept the Nittany Lions off the scoreboard throughout the day as they registered a dominating 17-0 win in Game 1 and capped off the afternoon with a convincing 8-0 victory in Game 2.

Freshman Emily Winesett and Junior Claire Fitzgerald played a big part in helping Haverford (2-0) open the season in impressive fashion as the duo combined in Game 1 to hold Penn State-Abington (0-2) hitless over the five-inning affair. Making her first collegiate start, Winesett (1-0) fanned four in three innings of work including two in the first inning alone. Coming on in relief for the final two innings, Fitzgerald struck out three.

The pitchers shut down the Nittany Lions at the plate and the offense took care of business as they banged out 18 hits in the first game of the day. Haverford exploded for six runs in the first inning with Jen DiCandilo and Kristin Tatum both delivering doubles.

The Fords then extinguished thoughts of a Penn State comeback by tacking on six more runs in the second. DiCandilo provided another double to center field and Lauren Touey doubled to right field but it was Tatum who struck the big blow in the inning with her first collegiate home run.

After the Nittany Lions managed to keep Haverford off the scoreboard for the first time in the third inning, the Fords' lineup erupted for five more runs in the fourth. Elizabeth Newman started things off with a triple down the left field line. Haverford added six more singles in the inning including Newman's third hit of the contest.

Newman, DiCandilo and Tatum each drove in two runs and finished 3-for-4 in the opening game. Playing in her first collegiate game, Tatum was a triple away from hitting for the cycle. Dayle Comerford was also a factor on offense by driving in two runs on one hit and also scoring three runs.

Michaela Drogalis (0-1) took the loss for Penn State-Abington.

Haverford looked to keep the momentum going in the second game of the day. After a scoreless first inning, the Fords once again went to work at the plate in the second. Miwa Wenzel's single brought Julie Garlick across the plate and DiCandilo's fourth hit of the day drove Wenzel and Newman home to help Haverford jump ahead 4-0 heading into the third.

Freshman Sara Tauriello (1-0) held the Nittany Lions' offense in check by registering three strikeouts in the top of the third while the Fords added two more runs in the bottom half of the inning. Stephanie Wolfson nailed the second home run of her career over the fence in left field and Touey tallied the final run of the inning when she scored on a wild pitch after reaching base on a single.

Haverford was not finished yet as consecutive doubles by DiCandilo and Comerford factored into two more runs in the fourth to account for the final 8-0 score after five innings.

Also making her first collegiate start, Tauriello surrendered just three hits and struck out seven in four innings in the circle. Fitzgerald came in to pitch the fifth and sent down Penn State-Abington in order with two strikeouts.

The Nittany Lions' Mariellen Medernach (0-1) gave up four runs in two innings of work.

The Fords aim to continue their strong start on Tuesday when Rowan University comes to Class of '95 Field for a doubleheader starting at 2:30 p.m.