HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College softball team (23-5) ran its winning streak to seven consecutive triumphs as it won its 22nd and 23rd games of the season in a Senior Day doubleheader sweep of Wilkes (13-11) on Saturday at Class of '95 Field.
Prior to first pitch of game one, Haverford honored its Class of 2026 seniors: Sarah Fan, Jocelyn Leal, Abby Litchfield, Addie Sapirstein and Anna Stowe. When action began, it was Stowe who was an immediate standout in game one.
Haverford 6, Wilkes 0
Stowe (1-1) earned the win with an impressive Senior Day showing in the circle, logging 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing six hits while striking out three. Shelby Preisser closed out the final 1.2 innings, surrendering just one hit.
After four scoreless innings to open the contest, Haverford broke through in a big way in the bottom of the fifth. The Fords strung together six runs on six hits, using a mix of small ball and timely hitting to seize control. Lauren Martin sparked the rally with a bunt single, and sacrifice bunts from Kyra Van Denburgh and Kama Bode moved her into scoring position. Zoe Friedman then worked a walk before Fan added another bunt infield single to load the bases.
Leal opened the scoring with an RBI single, and Sapirstein followed with a two-run knock to left that stretched the lead to 3-0. Preisser kept the line moving with an RBI single, and Litchfield capped the inning with a two-run single to right, giving the Fords a commanding 6-0 advantage.
The sixth inning proved just as critical, as Haverford's defense preserved the shutout in the face of Wilkes' best threat. The Colonels opened the frame with back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second with no outs. Preisser entered in relief and, along with a defensive shift that moved Litchfield to third and Grace Stowe behind the plate, helped stabilize the inning quickly.. A foul out moved a runner to third, but Preisser induced a key strikeout to end the threat, stranding two and maintaining the six-run cushion.
At the plate, Preisser led the way with two hits and an RBI, while Sapirstein and Litchfield each drove in two runs. Leal also added an RBI in the pivotal fifth inning.
Haverford's offense finished with eight hits on the afternoon and turned in a composed defensive effort down the stretch to secure the shutout victory.
Haverford 11, Wilkes 7
Powered by a game-breaking grand slam from Leal in the third inning, the Fords completed the doubleheader sweep with an 11-7 victory on Saturday afternoon at Class of '95 Field.
After trading runs in the opening frame, Haverford delivered its decisive blow in the bottom of the third. Trailing 1-1 entering the inning, the Fords capitalized on timely hitting and a key Wilkes miscue to erupt for seven runs. Shelby Preisser and Lauren Martin opened the rally with singles before Kyra Van Denburgh was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kama Bode and Zoe Friedman each forced in runs, and Sarah Fan reached on an error that brought home another, setting the stage for Leal.
Leal delivered the defining moment of the game, launching a grand slam to clear the bases and blow the contest open. The four-run shot pushed Haverford's lead to 8-1 and marked Leal's first home run of the season, capping a seven-run inning that seized full control.
Wilkes responded with three runs in the fourth and continued to apply pressure throughout the middle innings, trimming the deficit to 8-4. Haverford answered immediately in the bottom half, as Kama Bode drove in Lauren Martin with an RBI single to extend the lead to 9-4.
The Fords added two more insurance runs in the fifth. Sarah Fan came around to score on a fielder's choice from Preisser, and Leal later crossed the plate on an RBI groundout from Abby Litchfield, stretching the advantage to 11-4. Wilkes added three runs over the final two innings to push things closer, but the Fords stayed calm, cool, and collected to secure the sweep.
In the circle, Lauren Lamme (4-0) earned the win in relief, tossing 2.2 innings while navigating multiple threats. Kaleigh Bodak recorded the final two outs, entering with the bases loaded, to secure her second save of the season. At the plate, Leal led the way with four RBIs, highlighted by the grand slam, while Bode added two RBIs and Preisser contributed a pair of hits and an RBI. Haverford finished with 12 hits in the contest.
The Fords now hop right back into Centennial Conference play with a massive doubleheader against Hood Trophy rival Swarthmore (22-8, 9-1 CC) on Tuesday, April 14. The action in Swarthmore, Pa. is slated for 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. doubleheader first pitch times.
