Riley Stifles Green Terror to Lead Swat to Doubleheader Sweep
WESTMINSTER, Md. - Senior Kathryn Riley (7-8) dominated homestanding McDaniel from the mound, picking up two victories after striking out eight batters over two games while allowing just four runs on the day as the Swarthmore College softball team (13-17, 5-5) swept a doubleheader with the Green Terror 4-3 and 4-1 on Saturday afternoon in Centennial Conference action.
Perch had the game-winning hit in the first game.
After allowing three runs in the first inning of the first game, the senior hurler allowed just two more runs over the 13 innings to help Swarthmore win in its third consecutive Centennial Conference game.
Down 3-0 after the first inning of game 1, Swat answered back in the second, scoring an unearned thanks to an error from McDaniel catcher Hope Battista to tie the game 1-1.
Swarthmore took the lead in the third inning thanks to the bat of junior Melissa Emmerson. With two outs and the bases loaded, the junior doubled to centerfield, scoring two runs to tie the game 3-3 . Next to the plate, senior captain Michele Perch singled home the game-winning run, making it a 4-3 game.
From there out, Riley was unstoppable. The Green Terror managed a hit in every inning but the third, but could never get another run across the plate, as Swat hung on for the 4-3 win.
In the second game, Riley was once again too much for McDaniel, this time with the only blemish being a home run from McDaniels' Samantha Staub.
Swarthmore took control of the game thanks to a big fourth inning. Singles from freshman Kate Smayda and Riley got things started and an RBI sacrifice fly from freshman Danielle Seltzer pushed the first Garnet run across the plate. The big play came two batters later, when sophomore Liz Cushing tripled home two runs, giving the Garnet a 3-0 lead.
Smayda and Riley both finished the second game with two hits.
Swarthmore returns home on Tuesday for a Centennial double dip with Washington College. Action begins at 3:30 p.m.