Garnet Travel Kelly Drive, Split with Washington
CHESTERTOWN, Md.-- Swarthmore senior Kelly Siano drilled a three-run homer and freshman Kathryn Riley tossed another shut out as the Garnet downed Washington (Md.) 8-0 in the second game of a Centennial Conference softball doubleheader Tuesday afternoon. The Shorewomen tripped up the Garnet in game one, winning 5-4.
Swarthmore (16-8 overall, 6-2 CC) slips into a tie for second place in the Centennial standings with rival Haverford. The Centennial playoff race is will be much clearer by the weekend—Swarthmore finally tangles with the Bears on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. in Collegeville, Pa. (the much-anticipated Swarthmore/Ursinus match-up has been postponed twice during this wet April) while Haverford/Ursinus will take place on Friday (the original match-up was also postponed due to poor field conditions Tuesday).
Down in Chestertown, the Garnet jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first game when sophomore leadoff hitter Christine Sendelsky reached base on a hit by pitch, advanced to second on sophomore Lauren Walker's sacrifice bunt and scored when Riley singled to right-center.
Washington took control of the game in the bottom of the sixth, plating three runs on four hits to go ahead 5-1.
Swarthmore did not go down without a fight, scoring three times with two outs in their final at-bat to get within one. Senior Ashley Brandt smacked a two-out double and scored while Sendelsky also picked up a two-out hit and scored a run.
Garnet starter Alexandra Zelaski '09 (5-3) took the loss for Swarthmore, allowing eight hits in 5.0 innings while striking out two batters.
The Garnet bared their offensive muscle power in the second game, starting with a four-run fourth inning. Siano highlighted the frame with a three-run homer to left field—it is the second round-tripper of the season for the senior first baseman.
Swarthmore added two more runs in the fifth to take a 6-0 lead. Walker led off with her second hit of the game, a single to left, and came around to score on a double off the bat of Riley. After Katherine Gold '08 drew a walk, Brandt advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Freshman Michele Perch brought in Riley with an RBI single while Gold was cut down at the plate trying to score, thus ending the inning.
Siano drove in another run in the top of the seventh, plating Brandt who had smoked a one-out double down the left field line. Perch followed with her third hit of the game, a double, driving in Siano to make it 8-0 Garnet.
Riley (8-0), named the Centennial Conference Pitcher of the Week on Monday, cruised to her third shutout of the season by striking out five in 7.0 innings of work.
Swarthmore continues its extended road schedule later this week, heading north to Collegeville, Pa. on Thursday and then hit Lancaster, Pa. this Saturday, April 21 for another Centennial twinbill hosted by Franklin & Marshall at 1:00 p.m.