CLERMONT, Fla. – The Haverford College softball team put together an explosive day at the plate on Monday in Florida, totaling 23 runs and 29 hits across a pair of victories as the Fords defeated Utica, 14-13, in a dramatic walk-off before cruising past Pitt.-Greensburg, 9-0, later in the afternoon. With the sweep, Haverford improved to 3-1 on the young season.
Haverford 14, Utica 13
Haverford scored the final two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to cap a wild back-and-forth contest and defeat Utica, 14-13, at Legends Way Field.
The Fords pounded out 16 hits and erased two late deficits before Kyra Van Denburgh delivered the decisive blow, lining a walk-off RBI single to right field that scored Lauren Martin with the winning run.
Haverford struck early, answering Utica's first-inning run with three in the bottom half. RBI contributions from Abby Litchfield and Zoe Friedman, along with a Utica error, helped the Fords take a 3-1 lead. The Fords added a run in the second and two more in the third before a four-run fourth inning pushed the advantage to 10-3.
The Pioneers responded with the game's wildest frame in the fifth, scoring eight runs on six hits to surge in front, 11-10. The Pioneers later added two runs in the seventh to take a 13-12 lead, but Haverford answered in its final at-bat. A passed ball and error allowed the tying run to score before Van Denburgh's fourth RBI of the afternoon brought home Martin to end the game in dramatic fashion.
Van Denburgh finished 3-for-6 with four RBI to lead the Fords, while Martin added three hits and two runs scored. Litchfield also recorded three hits and two RBI, and Addie Sapirstein chipped in two hits and two runs. Shelby Preisser earned the win in the circle after returning to the circle to record the final 1.2 innings.
The teams combined for 27 runs and 29 hits in a game that featured four lead changes before being decided on Haverford's final swing.
Haverford 9, Pitt.-Greensburg 0
After grinding through five scoreless innings, Haverford's bats erupted late, plating nine runs across the final two frames to secure a 9-0 victory over Pitt.-Greensburg.
Locked in a pitcher's duel through the first five innings, the Fords finally broke through in the sixth. Shelby Preisser started the rally with a double down the left-field line before Abby Litchfield followed with a single. Zoe Friedman then delivered the key swing of the inning, lining a two-run double to left-center to give Haverford a 2-0 lead.
The Fords blew the game open in the seventh with a seven-run outburst. Consecutive singles from Grace Stowe, Addie Sapirstein, and Kyra Van Denburgh loaded the bases before Jocelyn Leal cleared them with a three-run double to center field. Lauren Martin later added a two-run single, while Stowe and Sapirstein each contributed RBI hits as Haverford extended the advantage to 9-0.
Sapirstein led the offense with a 3-for-4 performance and an RBI, while Stowe collected two hits and drove in a run. Martin, Friedman, and Leal each finished with two RBIs in the balanced attack.
In the circle, Sophia Faruol tossed four scoreless innings to earn the win, striking out four while allowing just two hits. Kaleigh Bodak closed the final three innings to complete the four-hit combined shutout.
