Swat Softball Moves Into First Place

SWARTHMORE, Pa. -- The Garnet softball team has a full slate of home games this week, highlighted by Thursday's doubleheader with Centennial-leader Ursinus. Swarthmore almost got caught looking past Washington (Md.) on Tuesday afternoon.

The Garnet (19-9, 8-2 CC) squeaked out a 1-0 win in eight innings in the first game and then urged on by head coach Renee Clarke, showcased the firepower in the middle of the lineup, getting a home run and four RBIs from senior captain Katherine Gold (Cherry Hill, N.J. / Cherry Hill East) on the way to a 7-2 win over the Shorewomen (8-16, 3-7 CC).

With Ursinus’ split with Haverford on Tuesday, Swarthmore jumps into a first-place tie with the Bears (21-7, 8-2 CC) in the Centennial standings. History is not on the side of the Garnet—the Bears have defeated Swarthmore 31 times in the last 32 match-ups (the Garnet won 2-1 at home on April 4, 2006).

Tuesday’s pairing with Washington featured a fantastic pitcher’s duel developed in the first game as the current Centennial Pitcher of the Week, Swarthmore right-hander Kathryn Riley ‘10 (Dagsboro, Del. / Indian River), and Washington southpaw Emily Adams (Bethesda, Md. / Bethesda-Chevy Chase), the Conference’s Pitcher of the Week at the end of March.

The pair matched zeroes on the scoreboard , allowing eight base runners without someone reaching third until the eighth. Riley worked out a jam in that inning, getting Washington’s Meg Travers to pop out with runners on second and third.

The Garnet run came in the bottom of that inning, helped by a pair of Washington miscues. Junior outfielder Lauren Walker (Fallston, Md. / Hotchkiss School) reached on one-out error by and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kristin Caspar ’09 (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. / Briarcliff). On the play, Washington attempted to catch Walker off second base and the throw sailed into left field. Walker came all the way around to score her team-leading 25th run of the season.

Riley posted her seventh shut-out of the season, earning the win after tossing 8.0 innings of five-hit softball, striking out two batters. She has won six straight starts and was honored with Centennial Pitcher of the Week honors on Monday, her second time selected as a pitcher and third weekly honor overall.

Swarthmore wasted little time scoring in game two, putting up three runs in the bottom of the first. Walker led off with a single up the middle and stole second, her 16th swipe of the season. After two Garnet ground outs, freshman Maggie Vizcarra (Long Beach, Calif. / Long Beach) lined a single into center to drive home Walker. Gold followed with a deep drive over the centerfield fence, a two-run shot, for her third home run of the season and 3-0 Swarthmore lead.

The Shorewomen struck back for runs in the top of the second as third baseman Amanda Campell (Boothwyn, Pa. / Garnet Valley) doubled off the left field fence. Washington looked to add more runs with runners at second and third and no outs. Garnet starting pitcher Alexandra Zelaski (Middleburg, Ohio / Midpark) worked out of the tough spot, retiring the next three batters to escape further harm.

Washington cut the Garnet lead to one, 3-2, when outfielder Irene Pastorino (Swarthmore, Pa. / Cardinal O’Hara) scored on a suicide squeeze bunt play by Megan Russell (Federalsburg, Md. / Seaford Christian).

Swarthmore pushed the lead back to two runs, 4-2, as Riley doubled, moved to third on deep fly ball by junior Christine Sendelsky (Edison, N.J. / John Stevens) and scored on a sacrifice fly by Vizcarra. Vizcarra had two RBIs on the afternoon and has driven in seven runs in the last four games, ranking third on the team with 20 for the season.

The Garnet bats kept cracking, scoring three more times in the fifth to take a 7-2 lead. Walker was the catalyst again, reaching on a Washington error and stole her second base of the afternoon. Riley held up her end of the bargain, lacing her second double to deep left, driving in Walker. Sendelsky beat out an infield hit and Vizcarra pushed the runners over with a perfectly placed bunt. Gold launched a towering drive to left-center, just missing another home run. The ball smacked against the base of the fence as both Riley and Sendelsky motored home with Gold sailing into second with her fourth double of the season.

Gold, who saw her eight-game hit streak snapped in the first game, but responded with a perfect 3-for-3 effort in the second tilt, tying her career-high with four RBIs. Riley totaled three hits on the afternoon, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored in the second affair.

Riley (15-4) relieved Zelaski in the top of the third, limiting the Shorewomen to three hits while striking out four hitters to earn the win. She is just one win shy of tying Barb Schaefer ’90 for the school record for wins in a season.

NOTE: Riley was incorrectly credited with breaking the wins record after 13 wins. Thanks to Jim Pilkington ’07 for the correction.

The Garnet are halfway through the most important part of their 2008 Conference schedule (eight home games in seven days) with Ursinus (Thursday, April 17 at 3:00 p.m.) and Franklin & Marshall (Sunday, April 19 at 1:00 p.m.) coming to campus for a pair of Centennial doubleheaders.

GAME ONE BOX
GAME TWO BOX

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