No-Hitter By Kathryn Riley Highlights Garnet Doubleheader Sweep of Morrisville State
SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Opening-season nerves weren’t a problem for senior Kathryn Riley and the Swarthmore College softball team, as Riley dominated the Morrisville State Mustangs, throwing her third career no-hitter to lead the Garnet (2-0) to a 13-0 win over the Mustangs in the first game of a doubleheader. Swat finished the sweep in the second game with a 12-10 win.
Game 1
Riley fired only the 11th no-hitter in Centennial Conference history.
The story of Game 1 was the outstanding pitching performance of Riley. The no-hitter came in a five-inning shortened game due to run discrepancy, but nonetheless, it is only the 11th no hitter in conference history. It is Riley’s third, the last one was also a 5-inning effort against Wilson on March 16, 2008. Riley was perfect through three and two-thirds before surrendering a walk to Morrisville's Kayla Walker in the fourth.
As Riley shut down the Mustangs, the Garnet found firepower behind the plate, jumping out to an early lead with a rally in the season’s inaugural inning. Junior Kira Kern led off with a walk and a stolen base. A single by senior Michele Perch followed by Riley being it by a pitch left the bases loaded for freshman Danielle Seltzer. The first year started her career memorably, ripping a bases clearing double with hard shot past second base to give the Garnet a 3-0 lead.
The Garnet loaded the bases again in the second, after multiple errors by Morrisville. It was Riley at the dish this time, ripping a two run single highlighting a rally that would eventually lead to a 6-0 lead.
Errant pitching and fielding plagued the Mustangs as the Garnet stormed up some more runs in the 4th. A barrage of hits left an RBI chance for Perch. She delivered with a 2-run double.
Danielle Seltzer and junior Maggie Vizcarra each finished 3-3 with 2 runs scored for the Garnet, but the story of the day, along with Riley’s no hitter, was a total team effort, with contributions up and down the lineup for the Garnet.
Game 2
A late surge by Morrisville was not enough to overcome a monstrous third inning rally by the Garnet as Swarthmore took the second game of the double header 12-10 on Saturday at Clothier Field.
After a 1st inning of defensive excellence by the Garnet the tone was set in a triumphant 2nd inning effort. The Garnet manufactured two runs with patience at the plate and aggressiveness on the base paths. It was a pair of first years who led the Garnet to pay dirt. A passed ball led Seltzer narrowly avoiding a tag to score the first run, and with two outs a gritty 11-pitch at bat by freshman Erin Curtis eventually drew a walk bringing junior Maggie Vizcarra in for the second.
The Garnet blew the lid off of the game, at least temporarily, with a gargantuan 3rd inning with netted nine hits and 10 runs with 15 batters getting to the plate when the dust finally settled. Back-to-back two RBI doubles, the first by Seltzer and the second by sophomore Liz Cushing highlighted the rally, which began with a triple by Riley, the first of her career.
However, Morrisville would answer with a rally of their own. The five-run barrage came by the way of a two run double by Anna Shupe and a RBI single by Kayla Walker. Morrisville would find their pitching and defense, shutting out the Garnet from the 4th inning on. They would continue to storm back with a 2 run 5th, cutting the Garnet lead to five.
The flurry of late inning hits continued for Morrisville into the seventh. A single and stolen base by Paige Jerrett followed by an RBI double by Anne Shupe signaled hope for the Mustangs, but Swarthmore Head Coach Renee Clark had seen enough. Swarthmore went back to their ace, senior captain Kathryn Riley to close out the game.
Riley struck out the final two batters to seal the victory for the Garnet.
Swarthmore will now head south for a three-game swing through North Carolina over Spring Break. The Garnet will play at Guilford on Monday at 1:00 p.m