IMMACULATA, Pa. - The Haverford College softball team (12-10) swept a road doubleheader from Immaculata (9-13) on Thursday afternoon, rallying from deficits in both games Haverford notched eight unanswered in the first game, before six unanswered over the final two frames in game two, stunning the Mighty Macs in non-conference action.
Game 1: Haverford 9, Immaculata 2
Haverford got on the scoreboard first, plating the opening run on an infield single from Abby Olivier. Immaculata's offense came alive early but struggled to sustain momentum. Emma Pinto's RBI single tied the game in the second, and Kate Daly walked in a run to briefly give the Mighty Macs the lead. However, the Fords pitching responded as the hosts failed to score in the final five frames.
Haverford responded with a three-run third inning and never looked back. Lauren Lamme and Clarissa Smith combined to limit the Mighty Macs to just two runs on eight hits over seven frames.
After Immaculata took its 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second, Haverford answered in the third. Maddie Etheridge tied the game with a sacrifice fly before Kamaha'o Bode drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single. A defensive miscue by the Mighty Macs allowed another run to score, giving the Fords a 4-2 lead entering the fourth.
Haverford continued to add insurance runs, with first baseman Lauren Martin doubling home a run in the fourth. In the fifth, Grace Stowe delivered an RBI double, and an RBI groundout from Abby Litchfield extended the advantage to 7-2.
The Fords tacked on two more in the sixth, capitalizing on a fielding error by the Immaculata right fielder. Martin walked and stole second ahead of Addie Sapirstein's sacrifice bunt. Etheridge then tapped an RBI groundout, while Bode and Jocelyn Leal each singled to manufacture an insurance run after the miscue allowed Bode to take an extra base.
Lamme (6-1) earned the win, pitching four innings while allowing two runs on six hits. She struck out three and walked two. Clarissa Smith came in for relief, tossing three shutout innings with two strikeouts to pick up the save.
Martin led the Fords offensively, going 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Bode, Stowe, and Etheridge each contributed RBI as well.
Pitcher Emma Mercadante (4-5) took the loss for Immaculata, surrendering nine runs (five earned) on 11 hits over seven innings. She struck out three and walked three.
Game 2: Haverford 9, Immaculata 6
Bode homered twice and Kaleigh Bodak delivered a stellar relief outing as Haverford stormed back to beat Immaculata, 9-6, in game two.
The Fords trailed 6-3 after three innings but scored six unanswered runs over the final two frames to notch a second consecutive victory.
Bode sparked the offense with a solo home run in the first and a two-run shot in the third, finishing 2-for-4 with three RBI.
Immaculata (9-13) jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in the first inning, capitalizing on four hits and a Haverford error. Jess Oldham's two-run triple and Rylee Martin's RBI double highlighted the rally. The Mighty Macs extended the lead to 6-3 in the third, aided by a pair of unearned runs.
Haverford's comeback bid began to take shape in the sixth. Bode walked and Kyra Van Denburgh drilled a double to left field. Grace Stowe singled home a run, and Sarah Fan followed with an RBI double. Kyle Morano's RBI infield single tied the game, and Lauren Martin gave the Fords their first lead with a run-scoring double to left.
Stowe added her second RBI with a bases-loaded walk in the seventh, and Morano grounded out to first base with runners in scoring position, plating the ninth run of the contest for Haverford.
Bodak (1-1) was dominant out of the bullpen, tossing seven innings of relief allowing just one earned run on four hits after entering for Rachel McQueen in the first inning. Bodak struck out three and walked two.
Addie Sapirstein swiped two bases and scored a run from the leadoff spot. Abby Olivier added a stolen base as a pinch runner. Stowe finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and a walk, while Leal and Van Denburgh each recorded multi-hit games in addition to Bode's standout contest.
Haverford will now return to Centennial Conference play this Saturday at Franklin & Marshall (12 p.m. doubleheader) looking to build on Thursday's late-game heroics as the CC playoff race begins to heat up.