Swarthmore Silences Ramblers
SWARTHMORE, Pa. -- Garnet freshman Kathryn Riley had two hits and four RBIs while classmate Michele Perch scored three runs as Swarthmore hit the double-digit victory total by sweeping Rosemont in non-conference softball action Tuesday afternoon at Clothier Fields.
The Garnet (10-6 overall) scored five times in the fifth to edge the Ramblers 7-5 in game one and then rode junior pitcher Emily Walz to a 6-2 win in the second game.
In game one, Swarthmore picked up two early runs for senior starter Marianne Klingaman, using two hits and two Rosemont errors to take the 2-0 lead. Sophomore outfielder Lauren Walker reached on a miscue by the Ramblers third baseman and immediately stole second. Perch lined a rocket off the Rosemont hurler and the Ramblers infield threw the ball away, allowing Walker to cross with the game's first run. Perch, who went to second on the error, moved to third on sophomore Christine Sendeslky's line drive and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
Sophomore left fielder Kristin Caspar made a spectacular diving catch to lead off the second, taking away a drive by Alicia Clayton.
The Ramblers came back to tie the game in the top of the third, as Janelle Clark and Anne Blessington came around to score on Jess Stefanik's two-out single to left.
The Garnet exploded for five runs in the decisive fifth inning to build a 7-2 advantage. Senior Julie Monaghan led off the inning with a single and after two Ramblers errors, scored on Walker's sacrifice fly to centerfield. Perch walked to load the bases up again and Riley brought home two runs with a single to right. Sendelsky followed with an RBI ground out to make it 6-2 before shortstop Katherine Gold '08 lined a single to center, plating Riley with Swarthmore's seventh run.
Klingaman struggled with her command in the seventh, loading the bases after hitting two Ramblers and Sharyn Cieszynski singled in a run for Rosemont to make it 7-3 Swarthmore. Gold charged a slow moving grounder by Stefanik and cut down the lead runner at the plate for the second out. With the bases still loaded, a wild pitch brought in one run and a throwing error by Swarthmore allowed Cieszynski to score as well. Klingaman induced Clayton pop out to Riley to seal the win for the Garnet.
Klingaman (1-3) struck out five batters, allowing only three earned runs, for her first win of 2007.
Monaghan led the Garnet with two hits and a run scored while Riley added a hit and two RBIs.
The Garnet benefited from a five-run second inning in the nightcap, started by senior Melissa LaVan's single to center and capped Riley's towering two-run double to left field.
Swarthmore added an insurance run in the fourth when Walker drew a one-out walk, stole second, and scored on Perch's single.
Walz (2-2) had it on cruise control, allowing only two runs on two hits while striking out six for the complete-game victory.
Swarthmore has double-digit wins for the fourth consecutive season and begins Centennial Conference play this Thursday, April 5 at Ursinus College. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.