HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College softball team (11-17, 6-4 CC) split a Centennial Conference doubleheader with Muhlenberg (14-16, 5-5 CC) on Tuesday afternoon on an unseasonably frigid day at Class of '95 Field, taking a 6-5 decision in extra innings to tally the win in game one before falling by a 7-4 final in game two. Haverford batted first as the doubleheader was originally slated to be held at Muhlenberg.
The Fords struck for two runs in the first inning with Mia Kessinger drilling a double down the left field line before Madison Hujber walked with the bases loaded to plate a second run against starter Raya Kunes.
Muhlenberg tied the score with a two-run homer in the fourth inning, as Kaitlyn Buurman launched one to get the Mules right back into the contest. Casey responded by getting out of the inning with a strike out and pop up, and the Fords went back to work in the fifth, plating two runs as Kessinger against connected on a loud RBI single into the gap to score a pair after Kaila Uyeda led off the inning with a double and Abby Marquis walked.
Kristin Oberg delivered a two-RBI double in the bottom of the frame to again knot the score at 4-4, as that score held going into extra innings. In the eighth, Phoebe May singled with one out and was lifted for pinch runner Carina Whiting. Whiting scored on anr RBI single from Etheridge, and Uyeda then powered an RBI double into right center to plate Ethridge, chasing Kunes from the contest.
Casey went back out for the bottom of the eighth, and immediately surrendered back-to-back singles, but calmed things down following a wild pitch that moved both runners into scoring position. Ava Calabrese brought Muhlenberg closer with an RBI single, but Casey induced a lineout from Madison Palat and got Sarah Karmazyn on a swinging strikeout to end the contest.
Uyeda was the catalyst at the top of the order for Haverford, with three hits including a pair of doubles. Abby Marquis was feared by opposing pitchers as she walked four times. Kessinger and Etheridge each tallied multiple hits. Casey (7-6) logged a season-high eight innings and struck out four.
In game two, Muhlenberg pushed three runners across against first-year pitcher Rachel McQueen. McQueen did well to limit the damage, but the Haverford bats were held in check by starter Cora Bridgers (5-6). The Fords brought things closer in the fifth, pulling to within one as Hujber singled to begin the inning and May reached on a fielder's choice on her bunt attempt. With one out, a double steal plated a run as a throwing error pushed a run across, and Uyeda then punched a single to center to put the Fords within one at 3-2.
Muhlenberg grabbed an insurance run in the fifth off the bat of Gillian Zack, and added three more in the sixth on an error and a double from Genna Gicchetti. Haverford clawed back in the seventh, with May and Uyeda each tallying key hits in the frame. Kessinger reached on an FC to pull the Fords within three but Bridgers kept her composure to strike out Kingsland to end things. Uyeda had a three hit game in the nightcap as well, while Kessinger stayed hot with a three-hit game of her own. McQueen struck out four in her five innings of work, while Alexa Finkele tossed a scoreless sixth for Haverford.
Softball now returns to action on Saturday for Senior Day at Class of '95 Field against Franklin & Marshall. The first contest is slated to begin at 1 p.m., with pregame festivities honoring the Class of 2022 seniors: Maya Casey, Genevieve Dallmeyer-Drennen, Michelle Kaplan, Phoebe May, and Emily Reinstadtler.