GLENSIDE, Pa. - The Haverford College Softball team (2-0) picked up a pair of dominant victories against the Arcadia Knights of the MAC Freedom, to open up the 2025 season on a windy Saturday at Blankely Field on the campus of Arcadia.
Haverford 12, Arcadia 1 (Six Innings)
Kamaha'o Bode led the way at the plate in game one, going 2-for-4 with four RBI, including a towering three-run homer in the sixth inning. Chipping in on the 12-1 onslaught was Lauren Martin, Mia Kessinger, and Jocelyn Leal, who all drove in two runs each against the Knights.
In the pitcher's circle, Rachel McQueen picked up her first victory of the season after throwing five innings of one-hit ball, surrendering one run and three walks, while striking out two batters.
After an RBI-single in the bottom of the first put Arcadia up 1-0, the Fords answered back in the top of the third after Grace Stowe capitalized off a throwing error following a Martin single. The reigning Rookie of the Year then came around to score off a Mia Kessinger single, before Kessinger and Addie Sapirstein each advanced on a wild pitch, with the latter scoring to put the visitors up 3-1.
The fourth inning saw a massive triple slugged by Leal that scored Kyra Van Denburgh, padding the Fords' lead to 4-1. After another shutdown inning from McQueen, Bode struck a double to left field, scoring Kessinger, to tack on Haverford's fifth run of the game.
In the sixth, Leal matched Bode's double with a two-bagger of her own, knocking in Abby Olivier, to extend the visitor's lead to an intimidating 6-1. Following a two-run single from Martin that scored Stowe and Leal, a single from Kessinger scored Maddie Etheridge, to give the Fords a eight-run lead at 9-1. Continuing to pile it on, Bode connected on her first-career home run, a three-run shot, to give the Scarlet and Black a commanding 12-1 lead.
Coming in to relieve McQueen, Anna Stowe threw a scoreless bottom of the sixth, as the Fords won 12-1 over the Knights via the 8-run rule.
Haverford 7, Arcadia 1
Game two saw Leal tack on two more RBI, while Van Denburgh went 2-for-4 at the plate, with one RBI and two runs scored. Making her collegiate debut, Lauren Lamme tossed five scoreless innings, giving up just one hit, while fanning two batters.
Haverford struck first in the second inning, as Bode took advantage of an error by Arcadia's second baseman, to give Haverford the early 1-0 lead.
The Fords put up their second run of the game in the third, as a Kessinger single knocked in Martin, giving the Scarlet and Black a much-needed insurance run. Kessinger eventually came around to score off a Van Denburgh single, before Leal drove in Bode and Van Denburgh with a two-run double, to extend the visitor's lead to 5-0.
Haverford took a 6-0 lead following a solo shot from Bode, her second-career home run, before Van Denburgh scored yet again on a groundout from Grace Stowe, to add a seventh run on to the scoreboard.
After five shutout innings from Lamme, the Knights tagged Kaleigh Bodak for a run off an error by the pitcher, to trim the lead down to 7-1, but it was much too little, too late, as Bodak shut the door on Arcadia, helping the Fords wrap up a 7-1 victory.
Haverford will be back in action on Tuesday, March 4, as the Fords welcome the Widener Pride to Class of '95 Field for the home opener doubleheader, with first pitch of game one slated for 2 p.m.
