CLERMONT, Fla. – The Haverford College softball team opened up its 2015 season with victories against Ohio Northern and Penn State-Behrend Sunday afternoon. The Fords used pitching and defense in the opening game against Ohio Northern, winning 1-0 behind a shutout from Emily Winesett. In game two, the offense came alive in a 9-6 victory over PSU-Behrend. Sunday's victories were the first two games under head coach Erin Brooks.
Haverford 1, Ohio Northern 0
Winesett took the ball to the circle for the Fords in the season opener. In her first game of the season, the junior tossed the first complete game shutout of her career. Winsett, who also has four combined career shutouts to her credit, scattered five hits in the opener. The Polar Bears' Kirsten Burdon matched the Fords' right-hander for most of the afternoon. However, a Dayle Comerford RBI single in the bottom of the third proved to be the difference.
Each side left two runners on the base paths in the second inning, turning away the early scoring threats. Lauren Touey singled to start the Fords' threat in the third. Jessica Koshinski also reached before a walk to Sarah Brody loaded the bases. Comerford came up with the game-winning hit with the bases loaded and nobody out. That lone run would be all the support Winesett needed in the opener.
After her teammates gave her the 1-0 lead, Winesett got even stronger. Following a lead off single in the top of the fourth fourth, she finished the game by retiring the 12 of the final 13 batters that she faced on the afternoon. The second inning of the opening game was the only frame in which an Ohio Northern player reached second base on the afternoon.
Haverford 9, Penn State-Behrend 6
In the Fords' second victory on Sunday, Haverford jumped out early with RBI singles from Comerford and Touey in the first two innings of play. Penn State-Behrend tied the game in the bottom of the second with two runs, but Haverford responded with a home run from Comerford. Back-to-back singles from Kristin Tatum and Jill Schnall, coupled with Kendall Chambers being hit by pitch, loaded the bases. The Fords then added two more unearned runs, but were again answered with three runs from the Lions in the bottom half of the inning.
Haverford took the lead for good in the top of the fifth. Stephanie Wolfson led off that inning with a double. Touey then brought her around for her second RBI of the game. Just one inning later, Comerford and Schnall singled, putting a pair of runners on the base paths with one out. Miwa Wenzel added an insurance run with a double to score Comerford.
Two more insurance runs were added for the Fords in the top of the seventh. Touey singled to start the last Haverford at-bats. Brody and Comerford also walked to load the bases where a wild pitch and error in the outfield allowed two more runs to scurry home. The Lions scratched across one run in their final at-bats, but Winesett - who came on in relief after her complete game in the opener - stranded the bases loaded to preserve the opening day sweep.
After her five-hit shutout, Winesett pitched five innings during the second game. She picked up her second victory in as many appearances. Against the Lions, she struck out five batters. Offensively, Comerford finished the game 4-for-4 with her home run, two RBI and two runs scored. Touey was also 3-for-4 with two runs knocked in and another scored. Eight different players had a hit for Haverford in the second game.
Up next…
Softball will be back in action Monday morning with games against Manhattanville (9 a.m.) and Salve Regina (11 a.m.). Live video and live stats, courtesy of Salve Regina, are anticipated to be available for the Fords' second game of the day.