HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College softball team (10-10, 2-2 CC) continued Centennial Conference play on Tuesday, earning a doubleheader split with Ursinus (13-11, 1-2 CC) on Class of '95 Field on Tuesday afternoon.
Game 1: Haverford 3, Ursinus 2
A three-run sixth inning powered Haverford to a 3-2 comeback victory in the opener. The Fords capitalized on timely hitting to erase a two-run deficit, securing their second conference win of the season.
First-year Lauren Lamme was dominant in the circle, picking up her fifth win of the season with a complete-game effort. The right-hander allowed just three hits and no earned runs while striking out four. She navigated trouble in the fourth inning, allowing two unearned runs, but shut down Ursinus over the final three frames.
Trailing 2-0 entering the bottom of the sixth, Haverford's offense came alive. Abby Litchfield sparked the rally with a leadoff double to left before Abby Olivier entered as a pinch-runner. Maddie Etheridge followed with a single to right-center, putting runners on the corners.
After Etheridge stole second, Jocelyn Leal delivered the game-tying hit, singling up the middle to drive in two runs. A fielding error by the Ursinus center fielder allowed Leal to advance to second. The Fords kept the momentum going. Kamaha'o Bode singled, and Addie Sapirstein followed with a base hit to left, plating pinch-runner Sarah Fan for the go-ahead run. Lamme then worked around a baserunner in the seventh to secure the victory.
Haverford tallied eight hits in the win, led by Bode (2-for-3) and Sapirstein (2-for-2, RBI). Ursinus pitcher Christa Andrusiewicz (5-6) took the loss despite a strong effort, allowing three runs on eight hits over six innings.
Game 2: Ursinus 5, Haverford 1
The second game went the Bears' way as unearned runs proved costly for Haverford.
Starter Rachel McQueen (4-5) turned in a strong performance, allowing just two hits over five innings, but defensive miscues hurt the Fords. Ursinus' Lucy Wolf (6-3) earned the win, tossing 5.1 innings while allowing one unearned run on six hits with three strikeouts.
Ursinus struck first in the opening frame when Samantha Mallen singled, stole second, and later scored on Kayla Carr's groundout to shortstop.
Haverford answered in the third as Leal reached on an error, advanced to third, and scored on Caroline Van Denburgh's double to right-center.
The decisive moment came in the top of the sixth. After two consecutive Haverford fielding errors put runners aboard, Reagan Robinson singled to load the bases. With one out, Keelie Hancock launched a grand slam over the left-field fence, clearing the bases and giving the Bears a commanding 5-1 lead.
Ursinus reliever Stephanie Wichman moved from left field to the circle in the latter innings and recorded her third save of the season with 1.2 scoreless frames. She halted a Haverford rally in the sixth after Etheridge and Sapirstein reached with one out and had designs on getting right back into the contest.
Haverford collected six hits but stranded 11 runners. Sapirstein (2-for-3) and Etheridge (2-for-2) led the offense, but the Fords struggled to string together timely hits against Wolf and Wichman.
McQueen took the loss despite allowing just one earned run, while Kaleigh Bodak pitched two innings in relief, surrendering three unearned runs.
Haverford now turns its attention to a non-conference doubleheader at Immaculata on Thursday, April 3. First pitch for game one against the Mighty Macs is set for 3 p.m.