A Christine Weekend for Swat Softball in Maryland
SALISBURY, Md. -- Swarthmore captain Christine Sendelsky led the Garnet softball team to a pair of wins at the 2009 Sea Gull Invitational this past weekend, including a launching a dramatic two-run walk-off home run to complete a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Cabrini on Saturday.
The 2009 Sea Gull Invitational welcomed 16 teams to the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex in Salisbury, Md. The tournament ran over two days with 27 games played and the field included four teams ranked in the National Fast-pitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25 poll.
The Garnet (4-5) had two games scheduled on Friday, falling to Mary Washington, 5-2, in the first game. Swarthmore’s second contest, slated to be against host Salisbury, was canceled due to treacherous playing conditions (snow fell as temperatures crept below 35 degrees).
Warmer temperatures arrived on Saturday and Garnet senior hurler Alexandra Zelaski ’09 (Middleburg Heights, Ohio / Midpark) kept the Swarthmore team close, allowing just two Cabrini runs. Sendelsky (Edison, N.J. / John Stevens), who is having a torrid start similar to her freshman year (team-best .395 average and four dingers), waited until the last-possible moment to deliver some Garnet magic. The All-Centennial second baseman smoked a two-strike, two-out offering from the Cavalier pitcher over the fence, driving in junior Kathryn Riley (Dagsboro, Del. / Indian River) to set off a mad celebration by the Swarthmore bench.
Swarthmore turned its attention to another Pennsylvania school in the second game of the afternoon, benefiting from another two-run homer off the bat of Sendelsky (the seventh of her career) on the way to a 7-5 victory over Wilkes. Riley and senior outfielder Kristin Caspar (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. / Briarcliff) accounted for three base hits each while freshman pitcher Marley Spector (Woodmere, N.Y. / George W. Hewlett) earned her first collegiate victory. Zelaski (1-3) closed the game, picking up the second save of her collegiate career.
The Garnet make their home debut this weekend against a pair of strong squads. Regional power Elizabethtown visits Clothier Field on Thursday, March 19 for a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader while eight-ranked Cortland State is in town on Saturday, March 21 for a 1:00 p.m. twinbill.
BOX SCORES to be posted when available.