HAVERFORD, Pa. – Haverford (11-1) extended its best start in program history with a doubleheader sweep of Gwynedd Mercy (3-8) in its home opener at Class of '95 Field on Thursday afternoon. The Fords rolled to a pair of five-inning run-rule victories, combining for 19 runs on 20 hits while limiting Gwynedd Mercy to just four total hits and a .118 batting average.
Haverford 11, Gwynedd Mercy 1 (5 innings)
Haverford jumped out early and never looked back, cruising to an 11-1, five-inning victory in game one.
The Fords plated five runs in the opening inning and added six more in the third to secure the run-rule win, finishing with 10 hits while playing error-free defense.
Haverford wasted no time setting the tone in the first. After Kyra Van Denburgh scored on an RBI groundout from Jocelyn Leal, the Fords strung together three straight run-producing plays. Addie Sapirstein delivered an RBI single to center, Zoe Friedman followed with an RBI base hit, and Lauren Lamme capped the inning with a run-scoring groundout to make it 5-0.
The Fords broke the game open in the third, plating six runs. Friedman and Lamme each added RBI groundouts before Shelby Preisser drew a bases-loaded walk. Abby Litchfield followed with a two-RBI single, and Lauren Martin added an RBI knock to right-center as Haverford built an 11-0 advantage.
Martin paced the offense with a perfect 3-for-3 day, scoring twice and driving in one run. Sapirstein and Van Denburgh each added two hits and two runs scored, while Litchfield and Friedman drove in two runs apiece.
In the circle, first-year Shelby Preisser (2-0) was dominant, allowing just one hit over four scoreless innings while striking out three. Clarissa Smith worked the fifth in relief.
Gwynedd Mercy managed just two hits, with Hannah Cohen and Nya Brown each recording doubles. Brown scored on a wild pitch in the fifth to break up the shutout.
Haverford's pitching staff limited Gwynedd Mercy to a .125 batting average while the defense backed the effort with a clean performance.
Haverford 8, Gwynedd Mercy 0 (5 innings)
Haverford completed the sweep in dominant fashion, shutting out Gwynedd Mercy, 8-0, in five innings.
The Fords again paired timely hitting with strong pitching, backing a complete-game effort from first-year Anna Murphy with a 10-hit attack.
Haverford struck first in the opening inning as Preisser delivered an RBI single to right, scoring Leal for a 1-0 lead. The advantage doubled in the second when Grace Stowe lined an RBI single to center, bringing home Sapirstein.
Murphy made the early cushion hold, limiting Gwynedd Mercy to two hits while working around a pair of walks. The right-hander induced nine groundouts and struck out three in the shutout.
The Fords broke things open in the fourth with three runs. Friedman drove in a run with a groundout before Kyle Morano's double helped produce another run following a fielding miscue. Van Denburgh added an RBI double to push the lead to 5-0.
Haverford ended the game in the fifth, plating three runs to enforce the run rule. Sapirstein delivered a two-RBI double to center, and Friedman followed with an RBI single to close the scoring.
Sapirstein led the offense with a 2-for-2 performance, scoring twice and driving in two runs, while Van Denburgh also collected two hits. Friedman added two RBIs, and Stowe contributed a hit, a run, and an RBI.
Gwynedd Mercy was limited to singles from Hannah Smith and Giavanna Kanaris as Murphy and the Haverford defense controlled the game throughout.
Haverford returns to action on Thursday, March 26, hosting DeSales for a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 3 p.m.
