Softball: Zelaski Blanks Widener, Garnet Split
3/28: Zelaski Blanks Widener, Garnet Split
CHESTER, Pa. -- Swarthmore freshman Alexandra Zelaski tossed allowed only one hit and catcher Christina Procacci '06 drew four walks as the Garnet defeated Widener 5-0 in the first game of a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon. The Pioneers (8-8) won game two 3-1 over Swarthmore (9-8).
The first game featured a dazzling performance by Zelaski, whose only blemish was a second-inning jam. The Pioneers' Rachel O'Leary cracked a two-out single to center and Zelaski walked Katie Mitchell and hit Danielle LaMarra with a pitch to load the bases. The freshman righthander bore down, striking out Trina Menta to end the threat.
Zelaski (4-2) sailed the rest of the way, retiring the final 15 batters to earn her second shut-out of the season. Zelaski fanned six batters, upping her season total to a team-high 44.
The Swarthmore offense put a run up in the top of the second and then benefitted from three Widener errors to score four more times in the fourth. Sophomore shortstop Katie Gold laced a two-run single to give the Garnet the 5-0 lead they would not relinquish.
Senior Danielle Miller had two hits and an RBI for the Garnet while Procacci drew a free pass on each her four plate appearances.
Procacci now has 85 career base on balls, putting her in a tie for the 12th-most all-time in Division III with Jeanne Hengemuhle from the College of New Jersey. Mariann Shumbo from Eastern Connecticut State holds the all-time record with 106 walks.
Swarthmore drew first blood in game two as freshman infielder Christine Sendelsky walked and stole second to lead off the second. Gold followed with an infield hit and junior Kelly Siano drew a walk to load the bases. Freshman outfielder Lauren Walker drove in Sendelsky with a base hit for a 1-0 Garnet lead.
The Pioneers evened the score at 1-1 in bottom of the third, wrapping three hits of Swarthmore starter Emily Walz. Widener struck for two unearned runs in the fourth inning, giving Pioneers pitcher Mallory Meyer all the run support she would need.
Sendelsky, Gold, Siano, Walker, and freshman Kristin Caspar all had base hits for Swarthmore. Walz (3-4) took the loss, allowing seven hits in four innings.
The Garnet return home for their next game, welcoming Philadelphia Biblical University to Clothier Fields on Thursday, March 30 for a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader.