COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. — The Haverford College softball team (15-3, 3-1 CC) swept Ursinus (8-14, 1-3 CC) in a dramatic Centennial Conference doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon, using a late offensive surge to capture a 15-13 slugfest in game one before riding a dominant two-way performance from Clarissa Smith to a 6-0 shutout in game two, as Smith secured her second win of the day.
Haverford 15, Ursinus 13 ( 8 Innings)
The Fords piled up 16 hits in the contest, with Kyra Van Denburgh leading the way with a 3-for-6 performance and two RBIs. Shelby Preisser also delivered a standout day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with four runs scored and two RBIs, while Lauren Martin added three hits and three RBIs. Jocelyn Leal reached base five times, scoring three runs and driving in another, and Kama Bode chipped in two hits and two RBIs.
Haverford struck first in the second inning, as Bode delivered an RBI single to plate Preisser for the game's opening run. The offense then erupted in the third inning, scoring five runs behind a two-run double from Litchfield, an RBI double from Martin, and a two-run single from Friedman to take a commanding 6-0 lead.
Ursinus answered in the bottom of the third, as Tierney Stuempfle doubled to bring home Maddie Rea before Anna Evanchik followed with a two-run double to score Stuempfle and Christa Andrusiewicz, cutting the deficit to 6-3.
The Scarlet and Black responded with a four-run fourth inning, featuring RBI singles from Preisser, Martin, and Bode to extend the lead to 10-3. The Fords added two more in the fifth, as Leal singled home Van Denburgh before Preisser drove in Litchfield to make it 12-3.
The Bears mounted their comeback beginning in the fifth inning, when Keelie Hancock doubled to score Riley Coneeny and Nina Davidson. Ursinus then surged in the sixth, as Stuempfle singled to score Andrusiewicz, Davidson drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Kayla Carr, Coneeny singled to plate Stuempfle, Hancock singled to score Evanchik, and Leah Bonsignore added an RBI single to bring home Davidson, trimming the deficit to 12-10.
Ursinus completed the comeback in the seventh inning, as Davidson singled to score Carr before Hancock doubled to bring home Coneeny and tie the game at 12-12.
After being held scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings, Haverford regained the lead in the eighth. Friedman brought home Litchfield on a fielder's choice, and Van Denburgh followed with a two-run single to center, scoring Bode and Preisser to give the Fords a 15-12 advantage.
Ursinus added one final run in the bottom of the eighth, as Carr singled to score Bonsignore, but Clarissa Smith shut the door from there to secure the win.
Haverford 6, Ursinus 0 (6 Innings)
Clarissa Smith (2-1) was the star of the show in game two, as she was exceptional in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout while allowing just three hits and striking out five without issuing a walk. At the plate, the junior delivered a two-run knock in the sixth inning, finishing 1-for-1 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Locked in a scoreless game entering the sixth, Haverford's offense erupted for all six of its runs in the frame. After Jocelyn Leal flied out to begin the inning, Shelby Preisser jumpstarted the rally with a double to left center. Abby Litchfield and Lauren Martin were then hit by pitches in consecutive plate appearances to load the bases with two outs.
Smith followed with a clutch single to right field, driving in Litchfield and Preisser to give the Fords a 2-0 lead. Zoe Friedman then reached on a fielder's choice that brought home Martin, extending the advantage to 3-0.
The rally continued as Sarah Fan dropped down a bunt single to load the bases once again. Kyra Van Denburgh then delivered a key swing with a two-run single to center, scoring Friedman and Smith to make it 5-0. Jocelyn Leal capped the inning with an RBI single up the middle, plating Fan and pushing the lead to 6-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth.
After giving up a two-out single, Smith then forced a flyout from Anna Evanchik to end the sixth stanza. The game was then called due to darkness, with Haverford claiming the victory.
Haverford tallied eight hits in the contest, with Preisser leading the way with a 2-for-4 performance, including a double and a run scored. Van Denburgh drove in two runs, while Leal added an RBI. Litchfield, Fan, and Smith each crossed the plate as part of the sixth-inning outburst.
