HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College softball team made the final day of the season a memorable one as it edged Gettyburg College, 1-0, in Game 1 of a Centennial Conference doubleheader on the strength of Gabrielle Sapienza's first home run of the year. The Fords fell, 9-4, in Game 2 despite two more home runs from freshman Dayle Comerford.
Haverford (17-18-1, 3-13 CC) and the Bullets (20-15, 10-6) exchanged zeroes on the scoreboard through the first four innings of Game 1 before Sapienza stepped to the plate. Sapienza's blast over the center field fence proved to be the difference as Claire Fitzgerald held Gettysburg, a Centennial playoff qualifier, without a baserunner over the rest of the contest.
Striking out six and walking one, Fitzgerald (9-8) scattered seven hits as she went the distance for her ninth win of the season.
Sapienza finished with two of the Fords' five hits in the opener.
Gettyburg's bats came to life in Game 2 as it took an early 5-0 lead after two innings.
After the Bullets added another run in the top of the fourth to go ahead 6-0, Comerford got Haverford on the scoreboard with a smash over the left field fence.
Gettyburg tacked on three more runs in the sixth, but once again the Fords answered in the bottom of the frame. Elizabeth Newman worked a one-out walk and Jill Schnall followed with a single to center. Jen DiCandilo's sacrifice fly brought Newman home before Comerford once again made her presence at the plate known. Comerford's second home run of the game, and fifth of the season, scored Schnall and moved Haverford to within five.
Laura Iwanyk continued the rally with a single that knocked Gettysburg starting pitcher Lanie Parr (5-6) out of the game but the Fords would get no closer.
Comerford finished with three RBIs and tied the program's single-game home run record with her performance in Game 2.
Seniors Iwanyk and Erin Delaney also registered hits in their final collegiate contest.
Brittany Stevenson (6-10) took the loss as she struck out three and walked none in five innings of work.