CHESTERTOWN, Md. – Opening its Centennial Conference slate, the Haverford College softball team dropped a pair of games to host Washington College on Tuesday afternoon. The Shorewomen made an early lead in Game 1 stand up for an 8-3 victory before rallying to take Game 2, 6-2.
The Fords (8-5-1, 0-2 CC), hoping to hand Washington (12-7, 4-0) its first conference loss of the season, quickly jumped out to a 1-0 lead after the first inning in the second game of the day. Lauren Touey stroked a double to right center and Jen DiCandilo followed with a double of her own that scored Touey and provided Haverford with the early lead.
The Fords tacked on another run in the third when Elizabeth Newman, owner of a lead-off single in the inning, moved to second on Jill Schnall's sacrifice. Touey came through with a single to right field to move Newman to third before DiCandilo's second double of the contest plated Newman.
Allowing just three hits through the first five innings, Haverford pitcher Claire Fitzgerald kept the Shorewomen's offensive attack in check until the sixth. Washington strung together five hits on its way to scoring six runs in the frame to win its fifth consecutive game.
Touey, a freshman, led the offensive attack with a perfect 4-for-4 effort in Game 2.
Despite striking out four, Fitzgerald (4-2) suffered her second loss of the season.
Brittany Walter (2-5) struck out five over six innings of work to earn the win for the Shorewomen.
In Game 1 of the doubleheader, Laura Iwanyk's two-run double in the fourth inning moved the Fords within 5-2 after Washington had moved out to the early advantage. The Shorewomen answered back with three runs in the bottom of the frame, but Haverford did not go quietly.
Schnall singled up the middle to start the Fords' rally in the fifth. Delivering a two-out RBI single, DiCandilo brought Schnall home and moved Haverford to within five, 8-3. Dayle Comerford extended the Fords' threat, and chased Washington starting pitcher Jill Piasecki, with a single through the left side but Haverford would get no closer.
Seven different players registered a hit for the Fords during the opening contest of the day.
Tallying three strikeouts over the duration of the game, Brittany Stevenson (4-3) took the loss for Haverford.
Piasecki (5-1) claimed the win for the Shorewomen.
The Fords, continuing conference play, welcome the Red Devils of Dickinson College for a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. The opening game of the twinbill starts at 1 p.m.