WESTMINSTER, Md. - The Haverford College softball team (13-11, 1-1 CC) split the its Centennial Conference opening doubleheader at McDaniel (7-11, 1-1 CC) on Saturday afternoon, falling in a run-rule shortened 12-4 contest before prevailing in a weather-shortened 6-5 game in the nightcap.
McDaniel 12, Haverford 4 (6)
Haverford started the first contest of conference play strong, pulling to an early 4-1 lead behind a big third inning. Jocelyn Leal and Molly Kaufman laced singles in the second inning to plate a run, and a three-run rally in the third gave Haverford a 4-1 cushion. The fourth frame included Kaila Uyeda, Nikki Kingsland, and Kaufman all delivering singles to push across three runs while the Fords also benefited from two McDaniel errors in the frame.
The Green Terror broke things wide open in the third, with back-to-back homers from Kylie Sears and Mandy Butz setting the tone for a raucous nine-run rally that put things out of reach for the Fords. An RBI double from Sears in the fifth and a Bella Sylvester single in the sixth helped push across the 11th and 12th runs of the contest for the hosts.
Kingsland and Kaufman each notched two-hit days to support the Haverford offense in game one. Abby Marquis connected on a triple for Haverford's lone extra base hit.
Haverford 6, McDaniel 5 (6)
As was the case in game one, Haverford staked its lead to some early runs, scoring a single run in each of the first two frames. Against McDaniel hurler Parker Murphy, Uyeda added a first-inning double and later scored on Mia Kessinger's single through the right side. In the second, Haverford doubled its advantage with a booming lead-off homer from Nikki Kingsland.
McDaniel tied the score against Rachel McQueen, as Bella Sylvester doubled into center field to plate a pair, and the hosts went ahead 5-2 in the third following another double from Sylvester, this time a bases-clearing rope.
Haverford rallied in the fifth inning to take the lead at 6-5. Maddie Etheridge walked and Addie Saperstein then reached on a throwing error to put two runners into scoring position. Kaila Uyeda reached on a fielder's choice, plating a run, and Mia Kessinger then notched a single into left to plate Uyeda and Sapirstein, tying the score at 5-5. After Jocelyn Leal walked with two out, Kingsland punched a double into left center, plating Leal for the lead.
McQueen made quick work of the McDaniel order in the bottom of the inning, and Haverford put a runner on in the sixth but could not score. McQueen worked around trouble in the sixth, as McDaniel put the tying run into scoring position but could not push anything across.
In the top of the seventh, Haverford was at bat with two outs when the game was called due to inclement weather and the threat of thunderstorms in the area. The game reverted back to the last completed inning, with Haverford logging the 6-5 victory.
Kingsland was a standout in the win, as she added two hits and two RBI. Kessinger had three RBI to pace the Fords, while Uyeda added the other Haverford RBI in the contest and scored two runs. McQueen struck out four in her six innings of work, picking up her fifth win of the season.
The Fords now return to conference competition at home on Tuesday, taking on Washington College at Class of '95 Field. Doubleheader action is slated to begin at 3 p.m.