Sweep Keeps Garnet Perched Near Top of Conference
SWARTHMORE, Pa. -- Maggie Vizcarra '11 and Michele Perch '10 combined to drive in nine runs as the Swarthmore softball team swept a Centennial Conference doubleheader from 2007 champion Gettysburg Sunday afternoon at Clothier Fields.
Swarthmore overcame early miscues in game one to claim a 4-2 come-from-behind victory and then broke out the offense in the second game, winning 8-0 in six innings.
The Garnet softball team improves to 17-9 overall, and more importantly, holds a 6-2 mark in Centennial play. Swarthmore is just one of three Conference teams (Ursinus and Haverford included) with only two losses, sitting in third place following Sunday’s action.
Gettysburg took an early lead in game one, plating unearned runs in the second and the fifth innings to hold a 2-0 lead.
The shoe found itself on the other foot as two Gettysburg errors in the sixth inning to load the bases. Swarthmore found itself in the same position as the ill-fated 2-1 loss at McDaniel on Saturday when 10 runners were left stranded.
The Garnet were determined not to let that happen again on Sunday.
Vizcarra (Long Beach, Calif. / Long Beach) tied the game with a two-run single to left, scoring junior Christine Sendelsky (Edison, N.J. / John Stevens) and senior Katherine Gold (Cherry Hill, N.J. / Cherry Hille East). Gold made it home from second, popping the ball out the Bullet catcher’s glove. Perch (Kinnelon, N.J. / Kinnelon) came through in the clutch as well, drilling a pinch-hit two-run single to left center to put Swarthmore out front, 4-2.
Swarthmore starting pitcher Kathryn Riley (Dagsboro, Del. / Indian River) struck out nine batters to win her fifth consecutive start, not allowing an earned run on five hits to move to 13-4 overall.
The Garnet bats struck early and often in the second game, highlighted by another two-out base hit off the stick of Perch. Sendelsky drew a 
two-out walk and Riley reached on a Gettysburg error. After Gold was plunked, loading the bases, freshman Melissa Emmerson (Ringwood, N.J. / Lakeland Regional) singled to center to drive in Sendelsky for the first run of the game. After Vizcarra reached on a fielder’s choice, Perch (left) delivered with a two run single to left center.
Swarthmore clinched the sweep with four more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Junior Lauren Walker (Fallston, Md. / Hotchkiss School) walked to lead off the inning and Sendelsky followed one out later with her third base on balls of the game. Riley smacked a single to left field, bring Walker in with her team-leading 24th run of the season. Gold singled to load the bases, and with two outs Vizcarra drove a bases-clearing double to right field for the 8-0 lead and Swarthmore’s sixth Conference win of the year.
Garnet junior Alexandra Zelaski (Middleburg, Ohio / Midpark) picked up her first win since returning from a mid-season injury, going five innings without surrendering a run on three hits to move to 4-4.
Swarthmore got considerable help from 6-7-8 spots in the line-up, as 10 of the 12 runs on Sunday were drive in from those positions. Vizcarra posted two hits with five RBIs while Perch went 2-for 3 with four RBIs.
Gold shook off a day full of bumps and bruises (dive attempt at a foul ball, collision with a Gettysburg baserunner, a hit-by-pitch and the play at the plate) to extend her hitting streak to eight games. The senior went 2-for-3 with two walks on the afternoon, scoring three runs.
The Garnet have won five consecutive over the Bullets (11-12 overall, 3-7 CC), dating back to 2006.
The Garnet continue the current eight-game homestand on Tuesday, April 15 when Washington (Md.) College visits for a Centennial doubleheader at 3:00 p.m.