SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The Haverford College softball team (15-14-1, 3-4-1 CC) split a doubleheader with rivals Swarthmore (15-11, 3-3 CC) on Tuesday, winning the first contest by a 6-4 final before dropping game two by a 4-3 final in seven innings as Swarthmore notched a walk-off to salvage a split at home.
Haverford 6, Swarthmore 4
In game one, the Garnet opened the scoring in the first inning after a few walks from Rachel McQueen. The walks set up two RBI singles from the hosts to take a 2-0 lead early in the contest. With it looking like McQueen struggling early, Susie Pieper was called upon to take over in the circle. Pieper surrendered two more runs in the second inning but Swarthmore's scoring ended there. The defensive escape set up the Fords to slowly work their way back into the game with strong pitching and smart hitting.
That comeback finally started in the fourth inning. Nikki Kingsland opened the inning with a lead-off single to right field. Abby Olivier came on to pinch run for Kingsland and moved to second base after a wild pitch. Mia Kessinger then stepped up and singled to right field for an RBI as Olivier made her way home.
Jocelyn Leal doubled later in the inning with only one out to advance Kessinger to third. Molly Kaufman followed that extra base hit with a single to center field to drive in two runs and cut the deficit to one. The bats continued to make contact as Kaila Uyeda's clutch RBI single tied the game up at four.
The Fords eventually took the lead in the fifth inning, riding all of the momentum from the fourth. Kessinger fouled out to the right fielder, but Addie Sapirstein was able to advance to third on the deep fly ball and then later scored on an error from the Swarthmore third baseman. A few wild pitches later during Kaufman's at-bat scored Carley Parsons, who was in to pinch run for Marquis.
Haverford would hold on to the lead and the win behind Pieper who earned the win with six innings pitched, zero earned runs, and a strikeout.
Swarthmore 4, Haverford 3
The Fords took an early lead in the first inning after a Marquis single down the right-field line for an RBI. Addie Sapirstein scored on the play after being walked to lead off the inning.
Haverford tried their best to hang on to the lead through three innings. Haverford tacked onto the lead in the fourth inning adding two more runs to take a 3-0 lead. Leal lead off with a single and eventually made her way to third after a wild pitch. That set up Uyeda to bring her home with an RBI single to left center field. Uyeda would be the one to score later for the Fords after a wild sequence.
In a wild sequence of events during Kingsland's at bat, a wild pitch allowed Uyeda to score as the Fords held that three-run advantage. However, Swarthmore matched them with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame thanks to an RBI single from Avery McClure and a sacrifice fly from Molly O'Sullivan.
With the game in the seventh and final inning, the Fords were three outs away from taking both games of the doubleheader and securing a crucial conference sweep. However, the Garnet had other plans. The hosts walked it off with an RBI triple to tie the game then a single to left field to bring the game to a close in heartbreaking fashion for the Fords.
With the doubleheader split in tow, Haverford now continues Centennial Conference play on Saturday, April 15 at home vs Dickinson for its Play with Pride Game. The first pitch of doubleheader action at Class of '95 Field is scheduled for 12 p.m.