NAPLES, Fla. – The Haverford College softball team (3-1) earned a pair of wins on day two of the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Naples, Florida. The Fords cruised to a 13-2 victory against Rockford before beating Pitt.-Bradford 8-7, thanks to a Molly Kaufman walk-off.
Haverford 13, Rockford 2 (5)
In game one, the Fords used a flawless fifth inning to down Rockford in five innings. Abby Marquis couldn't be stopped on the day. The senior drove in four runs on two hits against the Regents, while scoring two runs of her own. She led a group that had it going in the batter's box. Kaila Uyeda finished with three hits, two RBI, and two runs scored while first-year Jocelyn Leal went 2-for-2 while scoring three runs.
Through two innings, Haverford led 4-2 after clutch doubles from Marquis and Tessa Pearlstein in the first inning. In the second inning, Nikki Kingsland's sacrifice bunt attempt was fumbled by the Rockford defense, as she came around to score, trailing Leal as Haverford went up 4-1.
In the top of the fourth inning, Haverford drove in two more runs behind an Uyeda RBI and an Addie Sapirstein double to left field to score Kingsland.
The Fords blew the game completely open in the fifth inning. Mia Kessinger singled to center field to start the inning and Pearlstein reached first on a fielder's choice. Kaufman later reached first on an error from Rockford, moving Pearlstein to second. Leal was then walked to load the bases, setting up Haverford for a strong scoring inning with only one out.
Kingsland singled to center field to register two RBI, making the score 7-1 in favor of Haverford. Uyeda then singled to shortstop after Carly Parsons was walked in the previous at-bat.
Uyeda's single brought Leal home before Marquis tripled to right field to register three RBI, scoring Sapirstein, Uyeda, and Parsons. The inning's final action came from Kessinger, who singled to right field for an RBI as Marquis crossed home plate.
Ana Stowe was credited with the win, allowing only two hits, and one run, and striking out two in three innings of work. Also getting time on the mound was Susie Pieper, who pitched two innings and allowed one run.
Haverford 8, Pitt-Bradford 7
Haverford showed true character and resilience in game two against Pitt.-Bradford. The Fords put three runs on the board in the first inning. Uyeda reached first base after being hit by a pitch and was later able to steal second. With Uyeda sitting on second, Marquis stepped up to the plate for a single down the leftfield line. Uyeda flew around third and made her way home to score the first run of the contest, crediting Marquis with the RBI. After Marquis was able to advance to second on Uyeda's scoring play, Pearlstein hit an RBI single to bring Marquis home. Back-to-back singles from Abby Litchfield and Kingsland allowed Pearlstein to make her way home to make the scoreline 3-0 after one.
Pitt.-Bradford answered with three runs in the top of the third, tying the game as quickly as the Fords took the lead. However, Haverford regained the lead in the bottom of the third. After back-to-back walks put Litchfield and Kingsland on base, Carly Parsons singled up the middle to register an RBI in the inning. Again, the Panthers answered quickly, this time scoring four runs in the top of the fourth to take a 7-4 lead.
The contest began to heat up in the bottom of the fifth with Haverford set on ending the day with a dramatic comeback. Facing one out, Maddie Etheridge was hit by a pitch to reach first. Uyeda was next up and reached first on a fielder's choice, with Etheridge called out at second for Haverford's second out of the inning. Just when the Panthers thought they would make it out of the inning unscathed, a wild pitch moved Uyeda to second. Addie Sapirstein stepped up next and laid down a well-placed bunt to third base, and reached second base due to a throwing error that eventually scored Uyeda. Another wild pitch and throwing error from Pitt.-Bradford allowed Sapirstein to score, bringing the Fords within just one.
Sapirstein kicked off the seventh inning with a single to left field and later stole second during Marquis' at-bat. Marquis took full advantage of the situation with a single of her own. Another throwing error from the Panthers moved Marquis to second while Sapirstein was able to score, tying the game at 7-all.
With the game tied, Molly Kaufman stepped up to pinch-hit for the Fords. Facing a 0-1 count, the first-year singled to right field, as Marquis had her eyes set on ending the game. She eventually made it home, beating an attempted throw at the plate from the Panthers.
Rachel McQueen collected the win in the circle, pitching all seven innings. The sophomore allowed four earned runs, throwing a total of 47 strikes.
The walk-off from Kaufman sealed Haverford's third win of the season as the two teams are set for another matchup on Wednesday, March 8. The matchup with Pitt.-Bradford is the first of two games for the Fords as the contest with the Panthers is scheduled for 9 a.m., followed by a contest with another Pittsburgh area school, Grove City, at 11 a.m.