HAVERFORD, Pa. – Late-inning runs were the rule Tuesday afternoon in Haverford College's twinbill against Washington College as the visiting Shorewomen took two from the Fords, 8-6 and 12-10, in a Centennial Conference softball doubleheader.
In the opener, Washington (11-9, 3-1 CC) rallied from behind with seven runs in the top of the last inning to steal the victory, then it was the Fords' turn in the nightcap but their six-run, last-at-bat rally left Haverford (5-13, 2-4) two runs short in the come-back attempt.
The Fords jumped ahead early in Game 1 with a run in the bottom of the first. Elizabeth Newman's lead-off walk turned into a run when she came home two batters later on Candice Smith's single through the left side.
The Fords tacked on five more runs in the fourth as Laura Iwanyk, Jordan Nieusma, Beth Davis and Jen DiCandilo each collected an RBI in the inning.
Starting pitcher Lisa Karmel sailed through six innings surrendering just one run to the Shorewomen, but she ran into trouble early in the seventh.
By the time Karmel gave way to reliever Claire Fitzgerald, Washington had posted a five-spot up on the scoreboard in the inning to pull within a run. The visitors picked up three more runs, coming off Fitzgerald, to take the lead for the first time in the game.
In contrast, Washington starter Brittany Walter (6-4) labored through the first four innings but settled in and faced just one batter over the minimum through the final three innings to earn the win. Fitzgerald (1-6) took the loss for Haverford giving up three runs on three hits. Karmel allowed five runs on eight hits, no walks and six strikeouts.
Game 2 looked as if it would follow the same script in the early going as the Fords nabbed the early lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Iwanyk led off with a double down the right-field line and moved to third on a Marina Zambrotta bunt single. Nieusma cleared the bases with a two-RBI double to the fence in left-center field.
A pair of two-run home runs in the fourth off Haverford starter Maggie Cronin gave Washington the lead but Haverford rallied in the fifth when DiCandilo's double to left brought home Newman and Candice Smith.
The score didn't stay knotted at 4-4 for long as Washington pounded out five runs in the sixth and added three more in the seventh for a 12-4 lead.
This time, though, it was the Fords' turn to rally in a final at-bat.
Erin Delaney led the bottom of the seventh off with a double and was followed by an Iwanyk single. After a pair of walks to Zambrotta and Laina Gagliardi, Nieusma cracked a single through the left side to bring in one run and load the bases again.
Newman reached on a fielders choice as Washington picked up the first out of the inning in a force-out at home plate, then a walk to Davis brought home Gagliardi for the inning's third run.
Smith grounded out to first but Nieusma was able to come in for the fourth run, then DiCandilo pushed Newman and Davis across with a two-RBI single up the middle.
Washington starter Meaghan Kimme had given way to Jill Piasecki at the beginning of the sixth, but Kimme stepped back into the circle after the walk to Davis during the long seventh. Kimme (4-3) ended up closing out the inning to end the Haverford rally and earn the win.
Haverford starter Maggie Cronin (0-3) took the loss throwing into the fifth allowing nine runs, five of which were unearned, on 11 hits, one walk and five strikeouts.
Iwanyk and Delaney both finished the day with four hits apiece, and DiCandilo accumulated five RBI.
Haverford heads right back out on the diamond with little rest as Rowan University and the Fords will make up a postponed doubleheader from last week with a twinbill Wednesday afternoon at Class of '95 Field.