Defending Centennial Champ Muhlenberg Sweeps Softball
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muhlenberg (6-9) | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 0 |
| Swarthmore (8-7) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 1 |
| @ Swarthmore, Pa. | Clothier Field | ||||||||||
| Pitching |
|---|
| Win: K Jones (2-5) - Muhlenberg |
| Loss: Melissa O'Connor (4-4) - Swarthmore |
| Muhlenberg Batting |
|---|
| 2B: C O'Donnell |
| 3B: none |
| HR: C O'Donnell; B Blohm; J Klotz |
| Swarthmore Batting |
|---|
| 2B: Rose Pitkin |
| 3B: none |
| HR: Kate Smayda |
SWARTHMORE, Pa. - It was a tough afternoon on the diamond for the Swarthmore softball team (8-8, 0-2), which dropped a pair of games to Muhlenberg in its home and Centennial opener, 11-5 and 11-3 on Tuesday from Clothier Field.
Junior Kate Smayda and senior Elizabeth Cushing each finished with four hits on the afternoon, two in each game. Smayda slammed her team-leading third home run of the season in the first game. Junior Rose Pitkin and sophomore Nicole Aaron each finished with two hits in the first game while sophomore Jesslyn Lammerts added two in the night cap.
In the first game, the Garnet out-hit the Mules (11-7), but were done in by Muhlenberg's power bats. The Mules used a three-run home run from Jess Klotz and solo shots from Chelsea O'Donnell and Briana Blohm to push 11 runs across the plate. The Garnet pitching staff also gave the Mules plenty of freebies, issuing eight walks for the game, highlighted by a six-walk fifth inning that saw the Mules score four runs on no hits.
On the mound for the Garnet, sophomore starter Melissa O'Connor (4-4) took the loss, allowing six hits and striking out five over 5.2 innings of work. Freshman Chelsea Matzko worked 1.1 innings in relief.
Along with Smayda's fifth-inning home run, Pitkin added Swat's only other extra-base hit with a double to start off the bottom of the second.
In the second game, the Mules jumped on the Garnet early, using a five-run second inning to build a 7-0 lead that would prove insurmountable. Swarthmore looked like it would get out of the second unscathed, picking up two quick outs, but an error extended the inning. The Mules took advantage of their extra life, pounding out four consecutive hits -- including a double and triple -- to plate five runners and make it a 7-0 contest.
Following a pair of runs in both the third and fourth innings, the Garnet found itself in an 11-0 hole, but fought until the final out. Freshman Laurie Sellars and Smayda recorded RBI singles in the fourth inning while Cushing added an RBI hit in the fifth.
On the mound for the Garnet, sophomore Sarina Lowe (2-2) took the loss
Swarthmore returns to action on Thursday when it hosts Cabrini at 3:00 p.m.
