Swarthmore All Riled Up in Central PA
CARLISLE, Pa. -- Swarthmore sophomore Kathryn Riley went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs while also picking up the win in the pitching circle, leading the Garnet to a 3-2 win over Dickinson in the Centennial opener for both teams Saturday afternoon.
The Red Devils (10-8 overall, 1-1 CC) benefited from two unearned runs in the second game, winning 2-0 to earn a split between two of the top teams in the Conference.
Riley (Dagsboro, Del. / Indian River) out-dueled fellow 2007 All-Centennial pitcher Allison Jordan (Medford, N.J. / Shawnee) in the first game, striking out seven batters while allowing one earned run on six hits over seven innings. Riley picked up her eighth win of the season in the process.
The Garnet rapped out ten hits off Jordan (7-3), the biggest coming off the bat of Riley in the third inning. Garnet junior centerfielder Lauren Walker (Fallston, Mary. / The Hotchkiss School) reached on a one-out error and stole her 12th base of the season. Riley followed with her third home run of the season to put in front 2-1.
Riley got hit by a pitch in her next at-bat, moved up to second on a single by junior Christine Sendelksy (Edison, N.J. / John Stevens) and scored on a two-out single to left by shortstop Katherine Gold (Cherry Hill, N.J. / Cherry Hill East).
Gold, Riley and sophomore catcher Michele Perch (right) (Kinnelon, N.J. / Kinnelon) all had two hits in the first game.
Dickinson freshman Grace Perry (Newfields, N.H.) limited the Garnet to just four hits in game two to pick up the win.
Swarthmore freshman Maggie Vizcarra (Long Beach, Calif. / Long Beach) led the Garnet with two hits in game two.
Little rest is in order for the Garnet. They return home on Sunday for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader with 24th-ranked Rowan.