ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Haverford College softball team salvaged a split with Muhlenberg on the road Sunday afternoon. The Fords (11-13, 4-4 CC) bounced back from a tough 3-0 defeat in game one with a 7-2 win in the second game of the twinbill against the host Mules (10-16, 4-4 CC).
Muhlenberg pitching was the difference in game one as the Mules' Hayley Peterson scattered seven hits over her complete game effort to record the shutout victory. The Mules got their first runs of the opening game with a back-to-back hits in the third inning to score a leadoff double. The hosts added on two more runs in the fifth inning with a pair of two out hits that set the score at the eventual 3-0 final.
Haverford had a couple chances to score, including a prime opportunity in the first inning. Rachel Wolfson and Julia Blake started the game with back-to-back singles but were stranded on the base paths. In the second inning, Kendall Chambers doubled with one out before being stranded at third, while a single and double from Jessica Koshinski and Miwa Wenzel put runners on second and third in the fourth inning. However, Koshinski would be cut down at the plate before the Mules also escaped that jam.
Emily Winesett got the start for Haverford in game one and went 4.2 innings as she allowed just three runs during that time. Chambers came on in relief and conceded just two hits in her 1.1 innings of work to finish out the day.
In game two, the Fords cashed in on a couple of early chances with two runs in both the first and second innings. Three straight singles from Blake, Kristin Tatum, and Koshinski loaded the bases for Haverford in the top of the first with just one out. After a pop up on the infield, Chambers delivered a clutch two-run single into left field to give her team the early advantage. In the top of the second, Haverford made the most of a Muhlenberg error as Koshinski singled through the left side with two outs to make the score 4-0 after one and a half innings.
Two more unearned runs in the fourth inning made the score 6-0 in favor of the visiting Fords. Tatum and Koshinski reaped the benefits of the extra chances as both singled into centerfield during back-to-back at-bats. Muhlenberg scored its only two runs of the game with a leadoff walk that came around to score on a double. The team's second run also came into score on a fielding error during that same sequence.
Haverford added its final run of the afternoon to the scoreboard in the seventh inning when Chambers started things off with a double and eventually came around to score on an RBI single into left centerfield from Emily Gorman. That offense proved to be more than enough for Sara Tauriello as she finished her complete game victory with just six hits allowed, while striking out six batters during her fourth win of the season.
With the changes in scheduling last week, softball is currently slated for three doubleheaders during the upcoming week. Up first will be road trips to Arcadia and Widener on Tuesday and Thursday. Centennial Conference play resumes on the Class of '95 Field this Saturday when Franklin & Marshall comes to campus.