MEDIA, Pa. - The Haverford College Softball team (12-6) dropped both games of their doubleheader with Penn State Brandywine (9-3). The Fords made the trip to Media in hopes of getting back to winning ways but would lose the first game 11-2 before falling short by a score of 8-5 in game two.
PSU Brandywine 11, Haverford 2 (5 innings)
It was far from a good start for Haverford. Rachel McQueen, getting the start in the circle, walked three straight batters to load the bases. It was not a position the Fords wanted to be in but now had to find a way out. Susie Pieper came in to relieve McQueen but the damage would only get worse.
PSU Brandywine would go on to score nine runs thanks to seven walks from the Haverford pitchers. The Nittany Lions recorded three hits in the inning before McQueen came back in to pitch to earn the final out of the first frame.
Haverford could never really recover from that moment on. PSU Brandywine would tack on another run in the bottom of the third inning before the Fords finally got on the board in the top of the fourth inning. Abby Marquis singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch, setting up Jocelyn Leal to bring her home with an RBI double to center field.
The hosts pushed the lead back to ten after a wild pitch from Anna Stowe, who took over pitching duties for McQueen in the fourth inning. The Fords would score another run in the fifth as Sapirstein singled to left center with two outs to score Litchfield, who doubled earlier in the inning. However, a quick third out ended game one in five innings with the Fords looking to redeem themselves in game two.
PSU Brandywine 8, Haverford 5
The Fords once again found themselves in an early hole after the first inning, giving up four runs in the opening frame after scoring a run in the top of the first. However, Haverford slowly worked its way back into the contest.
Trailing 4-1 in the second inning, Kaufman stepped up for Haverford with a leadoff single. She was able to advance to third after a sacrifice bunt and fly out. Kaila Uyeda then singled to second base to bring Kaufman home to cut the lead in half.
Haverford's burst of runs came in the top of the third inning. Carley Parsons' leadoff triple set the tone and the rest of the Fords followed. Mia Kessinger followed up the triple with a single to score Parsons and then advanced to second on a throwing error. Marquis tripled to center field for Haverford's third consecutive hit as Kessinger's run tied the game at four.
Haverford would reclaim the lead after their fourth consecutive hit of the inning thanks to Leal. The first-year singled up the middle to score Marquis and the FOrds now held the lead after three innings of quality at-bats.
The Fords wouldn't hold onto the lead for long as the Nittany Lions grabbed the lead back with two runs in the fourth and then two more in the fifth. The hosts would earn the win after holding Haverford scoreless for the final four innings.
Parsons, Marquis, Leal, and Uyeda recorded the Fords' only RBI of the contest. Addie Sapirstein finished with two hits and a run scored. Alexa Finkele started in the circle for Haverford, pitching five innings. She would finish with 87 pitches and two strikeouts.
The Fords now look to the weekend as they host No.18 Rowan on Saturday, March 25 for a doubleheader at Class of '95 Field. The first contest is scheduled for 1 p.m. with game two to follow shortly after.