SWARTHMORE, Pa. - After a tough-luck loss in game one the Dickinson softball team responded quite nicely in game two to earn a split with Centennial Conference preseason favorite Swarthmore College on Saturday afternoon at Clothier Field.
Game One (Garnet 3, DEVILS 2)
Records: Swarthmore (13-4, 2-1 CC) | Dickinson (3-12, 0-1 CC)
Time of Game: 1:40
Pitching Decision: W - Emily Bertrand (6-2) | L -
Kaylie Renner (0-3)
Inside the Game
Dickinson had a chance to get on the board early as a double for
Eden Blanker, single by
Zoe Kleeblatt and walk to
Abby Kohan filled the bags with two away. However, Laia Gwathmey popped up to short for the final out. Kohan had an outstanding start to the game in the circle for the Devils as she allowed just one hit over the first two innings. Then, in the top of the third,
Jessie Sandusky began things with an infield single leading to Blanker smacking a two-run homer to left two batters later for a 2-0 lead. An error, walk and fielder's choice gave the Red and White a chance to add-on, but Renner grounded back to the pitcher to retire the side. The home team cut into the deficit during the last of the third thanks to a double from Iris Barone scoring Elisabeth O'Connor who singled earlier. The game remained 2-1 into the sixth inning as a walk to
Emma Glosson and single by Renner had two on with no one out. After
Emma Varella advanced the runners with a sac bunt, Sandusky hit into a fielder's choice which allowed the Garnet to force out the runner trying to score from third. A free pass to
Jane Lloyd re-loaded the bases, unfortunately, Blanker popped up to short for the final out. Swarthmore would make sure the game was tied up entering the seventh as Alex Simon ledoff the bottom of the sixth with a solo shot to left-center, before Renner took over in the circle for Kohan and prevented any more damage. Following a scoreless away-half of the seventh, O'Connor legged out a one-out bunt single. Then after swiping second base, she went to third on a groundout by Barone. That brought Jordan Jackson to the dish and she would pop the ball up near Renner in the circle, but her diving attempt came up just short allowing the hustling O'Connor to race home for the win.
Devils Circle Report
Kohan went the first five innings giving up six hits and two runs, while fanning five hitters. Renner suffered the hard-luck loss with 1.2 frames of two-hit one-run relief in addition to striking out one.
Game Two (DEVILS 10, Garnet 7)
Records: Swarthmore (13-5, 2-2 CC) | Dickinson (4-12, 1-1 CC)
Time of Game: 2:26
Pitching Decision: W -
Kaylie Renner (1-3) | L - Lane Barron (6-1)
Inside the Game
Both team struck in the opening frame as walks to Sandusky and Blanker coupled with two groundouts had two in scoring position for Kohan. During her at-bat a passed ball let one runner cross, before a single to right made it 2-0. The home-half saw a pair of DC errors and two hits result in the Garnet drawing even at 2-2. A scoreless second and third gave way to the top of the fourth, where a single for Gwathmey and an error on the ball put in play by
Erin McMahon allowed for a two-out single up the box for Sandusky plating Gwathmey for a slim 3-2 edge. With two on the reigning CC Rookie of the Year Lloyd had the opportunity to add to the advantage, but she grounded out to second for the final out. The hosts attempted to rally back in the home-half as with two down two walks and a fielder's choice loaded the bases chasing McMahon from the circle and bringing back Renner. That was when three consecutive singles plating four runs to bring the Garnet from one-run back to three runs to the good at 6-3. Kate Borza tried to keep the train rolling with another single, fortunately, the Devils were able to throw out the runner trying to race home to end the fourth. Once again Dickinson continued to show determination as singles for Blanker and Kohan coupled with a free pass to Kleeblatt loaded the pillows for Renner. She delivered in a big way by ripping a two-run single to center, followed by an RBI knock for McMahon to draw even 6-6. However, Dickinson was not done as an RBI single off the stick of Lloyd and a two-run error committed on a ball off the bat of Blanker let the Red and White carry a 9-6 lead into the bottom of the fifth. Renner pitched around a leadoff single in the fifth and two-out walk during the sixth to let the Devils maintain the three-run gap to the seventh. Each team picked up one run in the final frame with Kleeblatt coming up with an RBI single to center plating Lloyd who walked, while Barone provided an RBI base hit to set the 10-7 final.
Devils Circle Report
McMahon took the no decision despite tossing 3.1 innings giving up five runs (none earned) on five hits and striking out two. Renner secured the win thanks to lasting the final 3.2 frames allowing two runs (one earned) on seven knocks.
The On-Deck Circle
Dickinson (4-12, 1-1 Centennial) concludes a busy weekend on Sunday afternoon at 1pm with a conference doubleheader against Muhlenberg College in Carlisle.
