HAVERFORD, PA. - The Haverford College softball team displayed the promise this season holds at Class of '95 Field on Tuesday afternoon as it upset 16th-ranked Rowan University, 7-2, in the opening game of a non-conference doubleheader. The Fords fell, 12-3, in the second game of the twinbill.
Haverford (3-1) broke open a 1-1 tie in the Game 1 of the day with two runs in the fourth inning and four more in the fifth. Sarah Brody put the Fords ahead with a pinch-hit two-out single to center field in the fourth that scored Kristin Tatum. Julie Garlick followed with more clutch hitting as she stroked a single of her own to left field that drove home Lauren Touey.
After Emily Winesett kept the Profs (4-2) off the scoreboard in the top of the fifth, Tatum extinguished all thoughts of a Rowan rally. Elizabeth Newman and Miwa Wenzel worked consecutive walks off relief pitcher Jamie Lambe to begin the bottom of the fifth and Dayle Comerford drew another free pass after Jen DiCandilo flew out to deep center. Tatum, 2-for-2 in the game with three runs scored, did not miss out on the opportunity to put the game out of reach as she blasted a grand slam over the center field fence--her second home run of the early season.
The Profs, perennial NCAA tournament participants, added a run in the sixth but they would get no closer as Winesett sent them down in order in the seventh with three ground outs.
Scattering five hits and striking out four, Winesett (2-0) remained perfect on the season.
LeAnne Miller (2-2) took the loss for Rowan as she gave up three runs in four innings of work.
The Profs used an eight-run second inning in the final contest of the day to earn a split of the doubleheader. Sending Haverford to its first loss of the season, Rowan claimed a 12-3 victory in the game that ended in the top of the sixth inning because of darkness.
Comerford's second double of the season led to the Fords' first run of the game in the second inning. The Profs kept the hosts scoreless in the third before Touey (pictured) was a factor at the plate once again as she nailed her first career home run--a two-run shot to center in the fourth inning.
Claire Fitzgerald (0-1) suffered the loss while freshman Sara Tauriello made the second appearance of her career with three-plus innings of relief work.
Krysti Maronski (1-0) earned her first win of the season for Rowan.
Haverford's victory in the opener shows immense growth by the squad over one year's time as the Profs captured both games of last year's meeting by identical 9-1 scores.
The Fords head to the sunny skies of Florida for spring break action starting on Sunday at 9 a.m. against Brandeis University. Haverford will play eight contests over the course of the week.