Emmerson Slams Two Bombs, Riley Throws No-Hitter
SALISBURY, Mary. -- Swarthmore freshman Melissa Emmerson hit two home runs and sophomore Kathryn Riley added a home run and pitched no-hitter as the Garnet swept Capital and Wilson on the second day of competition at the 2008 Sea Gull Tournament hosted by Salisbury Sunday.
The Garnet completed their 10-game spring break road trip with an even 5-5 record, defeating Capital 8-3 in the morning and then rolled past Wilson 17-0 in the afternoon.
Riley (Dagsboro, Del. / Indian River) went 2 for 4 with three RBIs in the first game versus Capital (6-6), slamming a two-run home run in the top of the third. Junior Christine Sendelsky (Edison, N.J. / John Stevens) added a 2-for-4 effort with two RBIs, including a two-run double in the top of the seventh. Emmerson (Ringwood, N.J. / Lakeland Regional) hit her first home run of the day in the sixth, driving in senior Katherine Gold (Cherry Hill, N.J. / Cherry Hill East), who had two hits herself in four at-bats. Junior outfielder Kristin Caspar (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. / Briarcliff Manor) contributed to the hit parade, going 2-for-2 with two runs scored.
Junior pitcher Alexandra Zelaski (Middleburg Heights, Ohio / Midpark) registered her second consecutive win (2-3), tossing seven innings of three-hit ball while striking out four batters.
Swarthmore dominated both at the plate and on the mound in the second game, as Riley (3-2) did not allow a hit in five innings while striking out 10 of the 15 hitters she (left) faced. It is the first no-hitter for a Garnet pitcher in 20 years and believed to be the seventh in program history. Barb Schaefer '90 tossed four no-hitters in 1988 against Neumann, Cabrini, Washington (Md.) and Allentown (now DeSales).
The Garnet offense busted through the Wilson pitching, accounting for 16 hits in four innings. Junior Lauren Walker (Fallston, Mary. / The Hotchkiss School) led the way with a perfect 4-for-4 day, scoring two runs with two stolen bases while freshman Lauren Marczi (Chester, N.J. / West Morris) also did not record an out, going 3-for-3 with three runs and a walk. Emmerson scored all four times she reached base, accounting for her second home run of the day, a three-run job in the fourth. Riley added three more hits in four trips with five RBIs while Sendelsky was 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs.
The 17 runs are the most by Swarthmore since defeating Lehman 18-2 in 1998. It is also the largest winning differential for Garnet since 1991 when the Garnet defeated Albright 18-1.
Swarthmore (5-5) makes its 2008 home debut this Thursday, March 20 when Wesley comes to Clothier Fields for a 3:00 p.m. twin bill.
Thanks to Jim Pilkington '07 for contributing to the story.
GAME ONE BOX
GAME TWO BOX