Championship Central
Release courtesy of Haverford Athletic Communications
LANCASTER, Pa. - After needing a victory on the final day of the regular season to clinch a Centennial Conference tournament berth, the Haverford College softball team proved it belonged squarely in the playoff field with a resounding 11-3, five-inning victory over Franklin & Marshall on Tuesday afternoon at the Baker Campus in Lancaster.
The Fords (26-11) overcame an early deficit and never trailed after the second inning scoring four runs in the second, four more in the fourth and adding two in the fifth to secure the run-rule victory. Franklin & Marshall (17-20) put a dent on the scoreboard first but was held to just two hits the rest of the way while the Fords registered 15 hits.
Kaleigh Bodak earned the win, allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits over four innings with one strikeout.
Clarissa Smith worked a clean fifth inning to finish it off for Haverford. The Fords chased reigning Centennial Conference Pitcher of the Week Ainsley McClure from the game after just 3.2 innings pitched, surrendering nine earned runs.
Offensively,
Lauren Martin led Haverford, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, four RBIs and two runs scored.
Jocelyn Leal finished 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and two runs.
Shelby Preisser went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, while
Sarah Fan added two hits and two runs.
Franklin & Marshall opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning after Natalia Garza led off with a bunt single. The Diplomats took an early 2-1 lead by capitalizing on two Haverford errors, scoring on an Ellie Lopiccolo fielder's choice and a miscue at third base. Haverford responded immediately in the second inning with a breakout frame.
After
Kamaha'o Bode was hit by a pitch and
Abby Litchfield and
Sarah Fan reached on singles to load the bases,
Jocelyn Leal cleared them with a three-run double to center field. Martin followed with an RBI double to left center, pushing the Fords ahead 5-2. The Diplomats briefly answered in the bottom of the second with a solo home run from Abby Favazza, but Haverford controlled the remainder of the game.
The Fords broke the game open in the fourth inning by tallying four runs on six hits.Martin hit an RBI single to right to score
Sarah Fan, followed by a
Shelby Preisser RBI single that scored Martin. Bode then delivered a two-run single to right center, scoring both
Kyra Van Denburgh and Preisser to extend the lead to 9-3. In the fifth, Haverford added two insurance runs as
Jocelyn Leal singled and stole second before
Lauren Martin drove her in with her second RBI double of the day.
Shelby Preisser then capped the scoring, reaching on an RBI single to shortstop.
Franklin & Marshall was led by Abby Favazza, who went 1-for-2 with a home run and one RBI, while Natalia Garza added a hit and a run scored.
Softball now advances to Thursday's Centennial Conference semifinal game at top-seeded No. 22 Swarthmore. The Garnet swept the Fords in the regular season in two back-and-forth thrillers as Haverford will be looking to settle score with a return trip to the Clothier Field. First pitch is slated for 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Apr. 28 | at #4 seed
Game 1: #5 Haverford d. #4 Franklin & Marshall, 11-3 (5 inn.)
Thursday, Apr. 30 | at #1 & #2 seeds
Game 2: #5 Haverford at #1 Swarthmore, 4:30 p.m. | TICKETS
Game 3: #3 Gettysburg at #2 Muhlenberg, 4:30 p.m. | TICKETS
Saturday, May 2 | Swarthmore, Pa. | TICKETS
Game 4: Loser of game 2 vs. Loser of game 3, 11 a.m.
Game 5: Winner of game 2 vs. Winner of game 3
Game 6: Loser of game 5 vs. Winner of game 4
Sunday, May 3 | Swarthmore, Pa.
Game 7: Winner of game 5 vs. Winner of game 6, 12 p.m.
Game 8: if necessary, only if Winner of game 6 wins game 7
