Swarthmore Softball Splits on Saturday
WESTMINSTER, Md. -- Garnet junior outfielder Lauren Walker posted four hits with two stolen bases as Swarthmore split a Centennial road doubleheader at McDaniel Saturday afternoon.
The Garnet improve to 15-9 overall and 4-2 in the Conference while the Green Terror fall to 7-17 overall, 2-6 in the Centennial.
Swarthmore won the first game 1-0 behind a one-hit, nine-strikeout performance by Riley (12-4). Riley (Dagsboro, Del. / Indian River) posted her sixth shut-out of the season in the process.
Swarthmore’s Krista Scheirer ‘11 (Norristown, Pa. / Germantown Academy) accounted for the lone run of game one, leading off the fifth inning with a double to right. Sophomore Monica Cody (Torrance, Calif. / Marymount) bunted Scheirer to third and the freshman scored on a wild pitch.
Scheirer (pictured right) and Walker (Fallston, Md. / Hotchkiss School) posted two hits apiece for Swarthmore.
The Garnet jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second game in typical Swarthmore fashion: Walker reached with a lead off single and immediately stole her 15th bag of the season. The Garnet loaded the bases with two outs and freshman Melissa Emmerson (Ringwood, N.J. / Lakeland Regional) delivered with a single to left to drive in her 18th run of the season.
Swarthmore pounded out nine hits in game two, but could not pick up any more runs.
The Green Terror scored the two runs on one hit in the bottom of the sixth, benefiting from a Garnet error to take the 2-1 lead. Swarthmore would load the bases in the top of the seventh, but were unable to tie the game.
Walker, Emmerson and Riley were all 2-for-3 in the second game.
Garnet junior Alexandra Zelaski (Middleburg, Ohio / Midpark) made her first start since March 22 and suffered the loss despite surrendering one earned run on three hits while striking out three.
Swarthmore starts a grueling eight-game homestand tomorrow, hosting four Centennial doubleheaders in the span of seven days. The Garnet begin the stretch with Gettysburg on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.