HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College softball team (15-16-1, 3-6-1 CC) dropped both games of its doubleheader with the visiting Dickinson Red Devils (18-10, 7-1 CC) on Sunday afternoon. The Fords were on the wrong side of comeback attempts, coming up short in game one 10-6 before surrendering a six-run lead to drop game two in nine innings 8-7. Although it was a beautiful day at Class of 95 Field, the Fords had little time to enjoy it because of the Dickinson bats. The visitors seemed to place the ball wherever they wanted on the field and they were certainly rewarded with a pair of wins.
In game one, Dickinson scored the opening run in the top of the first inning as Eden Blanker grounded out to second base but registered an RBI with Jane Lloyd scoring on the play. The Red Devils were held silent in the second, but tacked on another four runs in the third inning.
Alexa Finkele started in the circle for the Fords but Dickinson started to figure her out prompting a pitching change to Susie Pieper. Pieper closed out the inning but eventually made way for Finkele in the following inning as the starter made her return to the circle. Pieper finished the day with two thirds of an inning pitched, one hit, and two earned runs.
The Fords continued to struggle with pitching but more notably, finding the gaps on offense. Haverford generated little offense as Riley Kuehn allowed only six hits on the day in a stellar performance. Dickinson increased their lead to eight in the top of the fourth, and Haverford had no choice but to respond at the bottom of the frame.
Kaila Uyeda opened the inning with a single to right field and advanced to second on a fielding error. After a Nikki Kingsland lineout, Uyeda advanced to third, ready to score the Fords' first run of the contest. The knock came off a Jocelyn Leal sacrifice fly to center field as Haverford saw an opportunity to cut more into the lead. Mia Kessinger kept things rolling with a double to left field, getting to second base standing with Abby Marquis next up. Marquis stepped up and on the first pitch, sent the ball to left field for a two-run home run. Kaufman popped up for the Fords' third out but Haverford now only trailed 8-3.
The Red Devils answered back with two runs in the sixth, but the Fords again cut into the deficit in the bottom of the inning. A Marquis double and Molly Kaufman single provided the scoring as Haverford only trailed four runs heading into the final inning.
However, as dramatic as the previous innings were, the final inning ended scoreless with Haverford falling short in its comeback attempt.
It was a much different story in the second contest. The Fords built up a six-run lead with great hitting, and were able to hold on to that lead because Rachel McQueen had everything working for her in the circle. The Haverford pitcher tossed six shutout innings while her teammates handled the rest in their at-bats.
The Fords opened the scoring in the third inning with Uyeda, Kingsland, and Leal registering an RBI. The inning ended with Haverford recording three runs and three hits.
The hosts tacked on another three runs in the fifth inning to take the 6-0 lead. The inning started with a Carley Parsons walk then Addie Sapirstein's bunt moved Parsons to second. Uyeda later singled to second base as Parsons advanced to third. This all set up Kingsland to single to center field, scoring Parsons and advancing Uyeda to third on the play.
With Abby Olivier in to pinch run, Leal doubled to center field to score Uyeda and Olivier and put the Fords in full command of the game. Dickinson answered in the top of the sixth inning but the Fords still held a comfortable five-run lead going into the seventh inning, or so they thought.
The Red Devils could do no wrong in the seventh inning, completely flipping the game on its head. Everything the visitors hit turned out to be a base hit in the frame. After six hits and two errors from the Fords, Dickinson now held a 7-6 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh, completely stunning Haverford.
The Fords refused to give up as Mia Kessinger homered to left field to tie the contest and send the game into extra innings. After a quiet eighth inning for both sides, the Red Devils secured the win in the ninth thanks to a single to center field from Zoey Kleeblatt that scored Lloyd who got on base previously with a single.
Haverford registered ten hits in the contest but were outdone by Dickinson's 13 hits. Sapirstein, Uyeda, and Leal all recorded two hits in game two with Leal registering the only extra-base hit with a double.
The Fords are going to rebound quickly as they dive right back into action on Tuesday, April 18. Haverford will travel to Allentown for a doubleheader with Muhlenberg in what are key contests in order to keep their Centennial Conference playoff hopes alive. The first pitch of doubleheader action is scheduled for 3 p.m.