HAVERFORD, Pa. - A strong showing by the middle of the batting order helped the Haverford College softball team earn a split against Dickinson College on Saturday afternoon at Class of '95 Field after it held on for a 6-5 victory in Game 2 of the twinbill.

The Fords (9-6-1, 1-3 CC) fell 3-0 to the Red Devils (5-15, 1-3) in the first game of the day.

Haverford put two runs on the board in the first inning of Game 2 on the strength of consecutive doubles by Jen DiCandilo, Dayle Comerford, and Laura Iwanyk.

Leading 2-1 in the third frame, the middle of the Fords' lineup was at it again as Laina Gagliardi's single brought Comerford and Iwanyk, both on base by virtue of singles of their own, around to score.

Facing Chelsea Homa (2-5) on in relief for Dickinson, DiCandilo and Comerford delivered again in the fourth with consecutive doubles to help Haverford tack on two additional runs which extended its lead to 6-2.

The Red Devils rallied with two in the fifth and one in the seventh to close within 6-5 but the Fords held on for their first conference victory of the season.

Striking out four, Claire Fitzgerald (5-2) went the distance to earn her fifth win of the season. 

Comerford and Iwanyk both finished 3-for-4 in the game while DiCandilo went 2-for-3. Jill Schnall also registered two hits for Haverford.

Earlier in the day, the Fords were held off the scoreboard by Dickinson pitcher Homa in Game 1. Lauren Touey and Gabrielle Sapienza managed the lone hits for the Fords in the 3-0 defeat. Brittany Stevenson (4-4) took the loss in the circle.

Haverford gets right back into conference action Sunday at McDaniel College with a doubleheader against the Green Terror that begins at 1 p.m.