KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Haverford College softball team got the 2019 campaign started with a pair of victories Sunday afternoon in the Sunshine State. The Fords (2-0) started their season with a 3-1 victory against Plymouth State before breaking out offensively during a 10-6 win over UMass-Boston during the second game.
Temma Levis seemingly picked up right where she left off a season ago as she got the call in the circle for the season opener. Levis went the distance and scattered six hits over her seven innings of work while striking out seven. The Fords provided her with enough offense in the bottom of the first inning to put the first game of the year in the win column.
Getting the offense going early all day long, Nicole Swisher started the bottom of the first with a leadoff walk and stole second during just two at-bats later. Swisher came around to score on a one-out RBI single from Julia Blake. Blake followed that up by swiping a base of her own and came around to score on a clutch two-out RBI single from Emma Souter. The Fords did manage to load the bases before that inning came to a close, but Plymouth State was able to escape further damage.
Nevertheless, Haverford already have enough runs for its starter as Levis did not allow a runner to reach scoring position until the fourth inning. Even when Plymouth State put runners on second and third with nobody out in that frame, Haverford's infield defense cut down a pair runs at the plate before a line drive to Souter at third kept Plymouth State off the board. Haverford made it 3-0 when Blake singled and stole second in the fifth before coming around to score on Marybeth Stone's first RBI hit of the season. Levis had set down 11 straight batters before Plymouth State hit a two-out pinch-hit home run in the seventh for its only offense of the day. Undeterred, Levis came right back with her final punch out of the day to cap the win.
Playing as the visiting team in the second game of the day, Haverford put up seven runs against UMass Boston before the Deacons even came to the plate. Things got started with a bang as Blake led off the game with a home run. Rachel Wolfson singled home the second run, while a bases loaded walk to Michelle Kaplan forced in the third run. Following a wild pitch, Emily Reinstadtler singled home her first collegiate run before fellow first-year Phoebe May capped the frame with a two-run single of her own.
Briana Quinn got the start for the Fords in game two and did not allow a hit through the first three innings. Even a leadoff walk to start the second was quickly erased with a double play from her defense behind her. While Quinn was cruising in the circle, Haverford added another run during the second and fourth innings. Reinstadtler's second RBI of the game scored Souter, while Reinstadtler later came around to score on a passed ball in the fourth.
The Deacons attempted to come back in the bottom of the fourth as they scored four runs before Quinn was able to avoid any further damage by stranding the bases loaded. Reinstadtler, who finished the game 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBI, also scored on a passed ball to make the score 10-4 after four and a half innings. UMass Boston made the score 10-6 after six innings with two more unearned runs. Quinn eventually earned the win after allowing just two earned runs over her 6.1 innings of work. Johanna Batterton did come on to get two outs in the fourth before Quinn re-entered the game and left her final stamp on the victory.
Softball will be back in action tomorrow with games against Marietta (12 p.m.) and Beloit (2:15 p.m.). Both of those games will be held at the same complex, Fortune Road Field.