HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College softball team used dominating pitching and a big offensive inning during both of its games, sweeping Arcadia Thursday afternoon in non-conference action. The Fords (19-6) exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fourth in game one, propelling them to a 9-0 win in five innings. A 4-0 first inning to start game two paced Haverford's 5-0 win to close the day.
Arcadia got its only two hits of game one with back-to-back singles in the top of the first. However, Sara Tauriello escaped the early trouble with some defensive help and a strikeout of her own. Haverford came back to score its two early runs in the bottom half of that inning. Jessica Koshinski led off the Haverford half with a single, while Dayle Comerford reached on a fielder's choice and stole second. Jill Schnall made it 2-0 with a two-run single into right field.
That 2-0 lead held all the way until the bottom of the fourth when Haverford turned one Knights' error into five unearned runs. The Fords had two of their first three batters in the inning retired as Sarah Brody worked a walk to reach during that span. Miwa Wenzel then beat out a two-out infield single, while an RBI hit from Koshinski scored the only earned run of the inning.
Lauren Touey reached on a defensive miscue and that was more than enough to open the offensive flood gates. Comerford and Kristin Tatum also had RBI singles in the big six-run inning, while Kendall Chambers brought the final two runs of the inning home on a single to right.
In the circle, Tauriello did not allow a batter to reach after the two singles to start the first inning. She set down the final 15 hitters she faced on the afternoon, striking out six in the process. Her second complete game shutout of the season improved her record to 8-1 on the year. Koshinski, Comerford, and Schnall each had two hits for the Fords in the victory.
Jumping out to an early lead again in game two, Haverford staked itself to a 4-0 lead after the first inning of the second contest. Koshinski also led off this game with a single and later scored on an RBI double from Comerford. Tatum and Schnall followed that at-bat with RBI hits of their own to make it 3-0. Chambers and Brody kept the inning going with a single and hit-by-pitch before Julie Garlick brought home the final run of the frame when she lifted a sacrifice fly to left field.
Haverford's only other offensive damage of the afternoon came during the bottom of the sixth inning. Brianna Lowey placed a one-out triple down the right field line to start the inning. She came around to score on a groundout from Koshinski to make it 5-0.
Starting game two in the circle, Emily Winesett retired 15 of the 18 batters she faced over her five innings of work. This stretch included each of the final nine batters to face her. Chambers came on for the final six outs of the game. She pitched a perfect sixth inning and allowed just a two-out single to finish the combined shutout. Koshinski and Comerford backed up their game one performances with two more hits apiece in game two, while Lowey also added two hits to the offensive output.
Softball returns to Centennial Conference action with doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday. The team travels to rival Swarthmore on Saturday for a 1 p.m. conference doubleheader. Haverford will be back at home Sunday for a 2 p.m. doubleheader with McDaniel.