Softball: Garnet Waltz By Crusaders
4/1: Garnet Waltz By Crusaders
READING, Pa. -- Swarthmore pitchers Emily Walz '08, Marianne Klingaman '07, and Alexandra Zelaski '09 combined to hold the Alvernia Crusaders to just four total runs and shortstop Katie Gold '08 had a pair of hits in each game as the Garnet swept Saturday's doubleheader, 10-2 and 4-2.
The Garnet took advantage of shaky Alvernia defense in the top of the first, scoring two unearned runs as part of a three-run inning. Gold picked up an RBI single before scoring on a wild pitch.
Starter Walz got off to a fine start, retiring six of the first seven batters she faced and preserving the 3-0 lead through two innings.
Swarthmore got three more in the third on a three-run blast by second baseman Christine Sendelsky '09. It is the first round-tripper for the freshman, and the fourth for the team.
Alvernia chipped away at the lead with single runs in the third and fourth before Swarthmore put the game away with yet another three-run inning in the fifth. Left fielder Kristin Caspar '09 delivered the key blow, a two-out, two-run single that made the score 9-2 in favor of the Garnet. Center fielder Lauren Walker '09 scored on a passed ball in the seventh to close out the scoring.
Walker joined Gold among four Garnet who finished with a pair of hits; Sendelsky and Caspar were the others. Sendelsky finished with team-high totals of three runs and three RBI.
Walz went the distance to even her record at 4-4, allowing one unearned run and four hits while striking out eight.
In the second game. Swarthmore's offense initially had trouble with Alvernia hurler Emily Williams, who struck out four straight over innings one and two. In the third, though, with the game still scoreless, the bottom of the order got the Garnet offense going. Walker singled, stole second, and came around on a Caspar base hit. Williams then bore down to hold Swarthmore to just a 1-0 lead.
The Garnet got another in the fourth when Gold tripled and scored on the same play on a miscue by Crusader second baseman Jackie Rhoads to make it 2-0.
After an error put two runners on with two out in the first, Klingman started a streak of 10 straight Crusaders retired with a big strikeout. Things started to unravel in the fifth as a walk, a fielder's choice, and two errors led to an Alvernia run. Klingaman allowed an RBI single but then got Rhoads to ground out to third to keep the score tied at 2-2.
Swarthmore would not be denied on this day. After Sendelsky reached on an error and Gold singled in the top of the sixth, junior first baseman Kelly Siano struck the big blow, a two-run double. Williams got the next two hitters, but the damage was done and Swarthmore led 4-2.
Zelaski did not allow a hit or a walk over the final two innings and caught Suzanne Fox looking to end the game. The freshman got the win, improving to 6-2 on the season.
Gold and Siano each had a pair of hits while Gold scored two runs and Siano had the aforementioned two RBI.
Senior catcher Christina Procacci drew a walk in each game to move into a tie for 10th place all time in Division III at 90 career walks with Jennifer Ambrose of New Jersey City.
The Garnet (13-8) start off the Centennial Conference schedule on Tuesday, April 4 hosting defending champion Ursinus in a 3:00 p.m. twinbill.