GETTYSBURG, Pa. – The Haverford College softball team ended host Gettysburg College's eight-game win streak with a 12-4 victory in the opener Sunday at Bobby Jones Field, but the Bullets rebounded to win the nightcap, 8-0, in the Centennial Conference opener for both teams.
The Fords (4-8, 1-1 CC) got a complete-game victory from starting pitcher Lisa Karmel in Game 1, then Gettysburg (10-4, 1-1) returned the favor in Game 2 when Taylor Snyder earned the complete-game win.
The Fords put two on the scoreboard in the top of the first of Game 1 courtesy of RBIs from Jen DiCandilo and Laura Iwanyk but Gettysburg answered with a pair of their own in the bottom of the frame.
The score remained knotted at 2-2 until the fourth when the Fords scored five runs with the big blow coming from DiCandilo who laced a bases-clearing double to center field for three more RBIs. The Bullets chipped away with two runs in the bottom of the inning but another multi-run frame sealed the deal for the visitors.
Laina Gagliardi did the most damage in a five-run sixth for Haverford, belting a double to right-center that plated Erin Delaney, Iwaynyk and DiCandilo.
For the game, DiCandilo collected three RBI from three hits and scored two of the Fords' runs. Gagliardi's three-RBI double was her only hit of the game while Elizabeth Newman, Marina Zambrotta and Iwanyk each had two hits.
Karmel allowed only six hits while walking none and striking out six to earn the win. Lanie Parr took the loss for Gettysburg surrendering 12 runs, seven earned, on 12 hits, a walk and four strikeouts over six innings of work.
For all the offensive prowess by the Fords in the opener, the nightcap proved to be the opposite as Gettysburg's Snyder limited Haverford to just five hits and a walk while striking out one.
Haverford got lead-off singles in the first and second innings but weren't able to bring the runners home. Snyder hand-cuffed the Fords batters over the final four innings allowing one hit.
Claire Fitzgerald started the game in the pitcher's circle against the Bullets but lasted just 1.1 innings giving up three earned runs off three walks and two hits in taking the loss. Maggie Cronin and Brittany Stevenson came on to pitch in relief of Fitzgerald, holding the hosts to three runs over the final 3.2 innings.
Haverford slips back out of conference action for its next two outings, both home, beginning Tuesday with a visit from Richard Stockton College followed by a Thursday visit from Rowan University. Both doubleheaders start at 3 p.m. on Class of '95 Field.