HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College softball team (12-2) saw its 12-game winning streak come to an end on Thursday afternoon, as the Fords split a doubleheader with DeSales (6-8) on Class of '95 Field. The Scarlet and Black extended the streak with a dominant 7–0 victory over the Bulldogs in game one, but DeSales responded with a shutout in the second game, marking Haverford's longest win streak since a 10-game stretch in from April 19-May 9, 2014.
Haverford 7, DeSales 0
At the plate, the Scarlet and Black were led by Shelby Preisser and Lauren Martin, who each recorded two hits, with Preisser notching an RBI double. Abby Litchfield drove in a team-high two runs, while Kamaha'o Bode and Zoe Friedman also added RBIs. Jocelyn Leal scored twice and reached base three times, and Kyra Van Denburgh added a run scored and a walk. In the circle, Kaleigh Bodak (4-0) was dominant, allowing just two hits and one walk over 6.1 shutout innings while striking out two. Sophia Faruol recorded the final two outs to complete the shutout.
Haverford wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning, as Litchfield singled to left field to drive in Van Denburgh before Martin doubled to center to plate Litchfield and give the Fords a 2–0 lead.
The Scarlet and Black added to their advantage in the third, with Preisser doubling to left field to score Leal and make it 3–0.
The Fords broke the game open in the fifth inning with four runs. Litchfield drove in Leal on a fielder's choice, Bode followed with an RBI single to score Kyle Morano, and Friedman added a run with a ground out. Haverford capped the scoring when Sarah Fan reached on an error that allowed Addie Sapirstein to cross the plate, extending the lead to 7–0. From there, Bodak and Faruol shut the door on DeSales to secure the victory.
DeSales 2, Haverford 0
The Fords were paced offensively by Jocelyn Leal and Lauren Martin, who each tallied two hits, while Kyra Van Denburgh, Shelby Preisser, Addie Sapirstein, and Sarah Fan also added base knocks. Sapirstein swiped two bases, and Martin added a steal as Haverford totaled eight hits in the contest. In the circle, Clarissa Smith turned in a strong complete-game effort, allowing just two runs on seven hits while striking out three.
After a scoreless battle through the first five innings, the Bulldogs broke through in the sixth. Ava Goodman led off with a single to left before Gianna Angermeier followed with a base hit. Kiara Castera then reached on a fielder's choice, setting the stage for Abigayle Freideman, who delivered a two-RBI double down the left-field line to give DeSales a 2–0 advantage.
The Scarlet and Black threatened in the bottom of the sixth, as Martin singled and Sapirstein followed with a base hit to center. Both runners moved into scoring position on a double steal, but the Bulldogs turned to Brianna Bauscher in relief, and she induced a pop-up and a fielder's choice to end the inning.
DeSales looked to add insurance in the seventh, placing two runners on behind singles from Paige Hromin and Arabella Heintzelman, but Smith worked out of the jam with a pair of pop-ups and a foul out to keep the deficit at two.
Haverford mounted one final rally in the bottom of the seventh. Van Denburgh singled and Leal followed with a base hit to put two aboard, before Preisser reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases with one out. With the bags juiced, Abby Litchfield roped a line drive to third base, but Hromin leaped into the air at third and caught the screamer preventing a big hit for the hosts. Martin then proceeded with a ground out to second, as the Bulldogs left Class of '95 Field with the 2–0 victory.
Softball will return to action on Saturday, March 28, opening up Centennial Conference play against Dickinson in Carlisle, Pa. First pitch of game one is slated for 1 p.m.
