WESTMINSTER, Md. — The Haverford College softball team (25–11, 8-8 CC) closed out its final two games of the regular season with a doubleheader sweep of McDaniel (12–23, 4-12 CC), earning 7–2 and 8–4 victories on Sunday afternoon at the Softball Park on the campus of McDaniel College. The Fords clinched their first Centennial Conference Tournament berth since 2019 in game one and wrapped up Centennial Conference play with the sweep in game two.
Haverford 7, McDaniel 2
Kaleigh Bodak led the way in the circle, earning the win after tossing five innings, allowing two runs on seven hits while adding one strikeout. Shelby Preisser closed the door over the final two innings, surrendering just one hit while striking out three to secure the victory. Offensively, the Fords capitalized on opportunities, drawing eight walks and taking advantage of two McDaniel errors. Jocelyn Leal paced the lineup with a 1-for-3 performance, adding a double, an RBI, and a walk. Lauren Martin contributed two RBIs, while Kyra Van Denburgh and Kamaha'o Bode each drove in a run. Addie Sapirstein scored twice and added a hit and a walk, while Sarah Fan chipped in a hit and a run scored.
After two scoreless innings to open the game, Haverford broke through in the third with a four-run frame. Leal reached on an error that allowed Sapirstein to score to make the score 1–0. Martin followed by reaching on a throwing error, bringing home Leal to extend the lead to 2–0. Friedman added a sacrifice fly to score Lamme and push the advantage to 3–0, and a wild pitch later in the inning allowed Preisser to cross the plate, making the score 4–0.
The Scarlet and Black continued to build on the lead in the fourth inning. Van Denburgh drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in Fan and extend the lead to 5–0. Bode was then hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing in another run to make the score 6–0. Martin capped the scoring in the inning with an RBI single to left field, scoring Van Denburgh and pushing the advantage to 7–0.
McDaniel responded in the fifth inning, as Ally McBride delivered a two-run double to left field to score Erin Thayer and Gianna Apostolakos, trimming the deficit to 7–2.
That would be as close as the Green Terror would get, as Bodak and Preisser combined to shut down the McDaniel offense over the final innings. Preisser struck out three across the final two frames to preserve the five-run victory, as Haverford secured its first Centennial Conference Tournament berth since 2019.
Haverford 8, McDaniel 4
Sophia Faruol earned the win in relief, improving to 4–0 after tossing four innings and allowing three runs (none earned) while striking out two. Clarissa Smith got the start, working three innings and allowing just one unearned run on six hits. Despite 12 hits from McDaniel, the Haverford pitching staff limited the damage and kept control throughout.
Offensively, the Fords totaled 13 hits, led by Lauren Martin and Shelby Preisser. Martin went a perfect 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three stolen bases, while Preisser finished 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Zoe Friedman added two hits and three RBIs, while Jocelyn Leal contributed two hits and a run scored.
Haverford wasted no time in the first inning, plating four runs to take early control. Van Denburgh opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly to bring home Sapirstein and make the score 1–0. Bode followed with an RBI single to score Leal and extend the lead to 2–0. Preisser added an RBI single to make the score 3–0, and Friedman capped the inning with another RBI single, pushing the advantage to 4–0.
McDaniel answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning, taking advantage of a Haverford error to make the score 4–1.
The Fords added to their lead in the third inning, as Preisser doubled to left center to score Martin and extend the lead to 5–1.
The Green Terror rallied in the fourth inning, scoring three runs to cut into the deficit. Caitlin Boden delivered a two-run single, and a Haverford throwing error brought home another run, trimming the lead to 5–4.
Haverford responded in the fifth inning to regain separation. Friedman reached on an error that allowed Martin to score, making the score 6–4. Later in the inning, Stowe grounded out to bring home Preisser and extend the lead to 7–4.
The Scarlet and Black added an insurance run in the seventh, as Friedman delivered an RBI single to center field to score Martin and make the final score 8–4.
Faruol then shut the door in the bottom of the seventh, forcing a Gianna Apostolakos groundout to secure the sweep for the Fords as they head into postseason play.
The Fords will now turn their attention to the Centennial Conference Tournament, where they will compete in the opening game on Tuesday, April 28, with the game time still to be determined.
