Fords Squirrel Away with Sweep
Haverford College used timely hitting to down long-time rival Swarthmore 4-3 in the first game and exploded for a ten-run inning in game two to win 13-1, sweeping a Centennial double header at Clothier Fields on Tuesday afternoon.
In game one Sarah Nagle hit a one-out single off Garnet starter Amy DiBiase '08 and came all the way around to score on second baseman Allison Frank's double in the gap. Lindsey Sullivan followed with an RBI single to center, giving the Fords a 3-2 lead.
The Fords (10-23, 5-9 CC) added a run in the top of the sixth, but Swarthmore staged a rally in the bottom of the inning. Kelly Siano '07 led off with double and left fielder Anna Ghublikian '08 followed with a single up the middle. Melissa LaVan '07 hit a come-backer to Ford pitcher Catherine Knepp, moving the winning run into scoring position. Pinch hitter Mary Blair '05 smoked a line drive that Frank dropped, only to see Frank throw out Siano at the plate for out number two.
Haverford brought in a new pitcher, Julia Iodice, who immediately walked catcher Christina Procacci '06 and second baseman Danielle Miller '06 to bring home Ghublikian with the tying run. Iodice got shortstop Katie Gold '08 to foul out to the Fords third baseman to keep the score at 3-3.
The Fords put the winning run across in the top of the seventh, and potential Garnet runs were snuffed out in the bottom half when Ghublikian lined into a game-ending double play.
Right fielder Valerie Marone '05 continued with her RBI binge, driving in one runner with two hits on the day. Siano reached base three times with a double and two walks, while Procacci drew three walks in the game.
DiBiase took the loss for the Garnet (10-24, 4-9 CC), throwing all seven innings, allowing nine hits while striking out three.
The Garnet drew first blood in game two as Siano struck out but reached base on a throwing error by Ford catcher Adriane Theis. Siano scored two batters later as Melissa LaVan '07 delivered with a two-out RBI single.
Haverford evened the game in the top of the third and got two more in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead. The flood gates opened up in the top of the sixth when the Fords got eleven straight base hits to grab a 13-1 lead.
Swarthmore got base hits in game two from Procacci, Mintel, Siano, LaVan, and Blair while Emily Remus '06 suffered the loss.
Procacci drew two more walks in game two to push her Centennial Conference record to 33 base on balls in a season. The catcher's propensity to accumulate free passes has her ranking in the top 25 all-time in Division III softball.
The Garnet will host their final twin bill of the season on Saturday, April 30th when the Green Terror from McDaniel College visit Clothier Fields at 1:00 p.m.