Garnet Deal with the Devils, Split with Dickinson
SWARTHMORE, Pa. -- Garnet freshman Kathryn Riley continued to dazzle, smacking her team-leading third home run of the season and picking up her fifth victory on a chilly Saturday afternoon as Swarthmore began Centennial Conference play at Clothier Fields. The Garnet split a doubleheader with the Red Devils of Dickinson College, losing 10-2 in the first contest but rebounding with a 3-2 victory in the nightcap.
The Garnet (11-7, 1-1 CC) found offense early in the first contest, as Riley hit a towering shot over the right-centerfield fence in the first inning to give the Garnet an early lead.
Sophomore hurler Alexandra Zelaski (3-2) took the loss for the Garnet, surrendering six runs on eight hits with two strikeouts in 2.1 innings of work. Zelaski appeared to be cruising early in the game, until the Dickinson bats got to her in the third inning. With one out, nine consecutive Red Devil batters reached base safely, as they were able to string together five consecutive singles to start the rally. After six runs had already crossed the plate, Marianne Klingaman '07 entered the game, yielding two more runs on a double by junior catcher Theresa Souza. When the dust cleared, the Red Devils had pieced together an eight-run inning on nine hits, including two 2-RBI doubles.
Dickinson (8-9, 1-3 CC) tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning when Devils' freshman starter Allison Jordan helped herself even more with a two-run home run, giving the Red Devils a 10-1 lead. Klingaman finished the game giving up four runs on three hits and two walks in 2.2 innings of relief duty.
That run support was all Jordan (5-4) needed for the complete-game victory. The only Garnet threat came in the fourth inning. Following a one-out walk by Katherine Gold '08, senior Kelly Siano singled to left and Kristin Caspar '09 singled to centerfield, knocking in Gold. Besides Riley's home run, these were the only other hits that the Garnet bats could muster against Jordan in the first contest.
Jordan finished the game only surrendering two runs on three hits, registering five strikeouts in the process. At the plate, Jordan was two-for-three with a single, home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Senior infielder Alex Speace also led the Dickinson offensive attack, going two-for-two with an RBI single, double, walk, and a run scored.
The tides turned in the day's second contest, though, as the Garnet pulled out a 3-2 victory in a pitcher's duel with Riley coming out on top.
As in Game 1, the Garnet took an early lead in the contest. In the bottom of the first inning, the first five batters in the Garnet lineup reached base. Sophomore centerfielder Lauren Walker led off the game with a walk, advancing to second on a single by Ashley Brandt '07 and to third on an errant throw. After Riley walked, Christine Sendelsky '09 was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, bringing in Walker. Gold followed with an RBI single to centerfield, scoring Brandt to cap off a two-run opening frame.
The Red Devils chipped away at the Garnet lead with a run in the fourth inning. Junior Kaitlyn McDonaldled off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch, to third on a sacrifice bunt by first baseman Lisa Biddle, and scored on a fielding error.
Dickinson tied the game up in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Speace, scoring Eve Massa'08 who had led the inning off with a single.
The Garnet kept the game tied at two with a clutch defensive play in the sixth inning. After a lead-off single by Biddle to centerfield, Jordan smoked a line drive. Senior third baseman Melissa LaVan snagged the shot, though, and turned the solid play into a gem when she fired the ball to second to get the snoozing Biddle out on a double play.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Garnet took the lead. Following a single to leftfield by freshman catcher Michele Perch, Caspar followed with a sacrifice bunt, advancing pinch-runner Monica Cody '10 to second. An infield single by LaVan found a hole in the Dickinson defense, scoring Cody on the play.
This run proved to be the difference, as Riley put down the Dickinson batters in order in the seventh to secure the one-run victory for the Garnet. Riley (5-0) finished the contest surrendering two runs on five hits, with five strikeouts. She remains unbeaten this season, yielding an impressive 0.74 ERA.
Riley also continues to lead the Garnet offensively, going two-for-five with a single, home run, walk, and RBI on the day. Gold and Caspar both finished the day one-for-four at the plate with RBI singles.
These contests begin a stretch in which the Garnet will play eight Centennial Conference games in seven days, including games against perennial playoff contenders Muhlenberg, Ursinus, and Gettysburg. Swarthmore will begin this difficult stretch with a doubleheader against Muhlenberg at Clothier Fields scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m., seeking to avenge a sweep by the Mules last year in Allentown.