HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College softball team (3-7) split their home-opening doubleheader against Cabrini (8-4) at Class of '95 Field on Friday afternoon. The Fords took game one 3-2 in eight innings before dropping game two by a 3-1 score as the two sides battled one day later than expected due to rain on Thursday afternoon.
Maya Casey started game one in the circle for the Fords, pitching all eight innings. Casey finished game one striking out three, allowing seven hits and two runs. She battled against Avery Byrnes of Cabrini, who pitched 7.1 innings, striking out four in her stint in the circle.
The first run came in the third inning. Madison Hujber reached base on an error by Cabrini and was able to steal second shortly after. Next, Carina Whiting was walked, which set up Kaila Uyeda to move the runners with a ground out to third base with a bunt. Finally, Nikki Kingsland knocked an RBI single to center field to bring Hujber home.
In the fourth inning, Hujber singled to center field to score Parsons, who was previously walked by Cabrini's Brynes. The Fords held that 2-0 advantage until the sixth inning, where Cabrini got one run closer thanks to a Dorian Ilyes RBI-single to left field. The Cavaliers later tied things back up in the seventh inning on a fielding error by Haverford.
With extra innings needed, Casey held her own in the circle with three straight outs after initially walking the first batter. Extra inning rules placed a runner on second, and Haverford played things perfectly. Abby Marquis was walked, and Abby Olivier's sacrifice-bunt moved Kessinger to third.
With only one out, Carley Parsons stepped up to the plate with a hard hit grounder to second base, as Cabrini threw home but Kessinger scored the game-winning run to close game one. For the contest, runs were scored by Kessinger, Susie Pieper, and Hujber. The Fords finished with five hits but possibly could have scored more, leaving seven players on base. Parsons had the only extra-base hit with her booming triple in the second inning.
Game two had the same feel, but the Fords couldn't get over the hump in the nightcap. Cabrini scored three runs in the opening two innings, and Haverford couldn't capitalize on its offensive chances, leaving another seven on base. Emily Reinstadtler got the start in the circle, pitching all seven innings and striking out six batters. Kaila Uyeda and Abby Marquis finished with the Fords' only two extra-base hits in the contest. In the third inning, Kessinger had the lone RBI for Haverford, with an single up the middle that scored Uyeda.
Most of the offensive action ended after the bottom of the third. Both teams found it difficult to get any momentum going as the pitchers swapped scoreless frames. Haverford finished the game with seven hits but couldn't get anything from them to complete a comeback. Maddie Etheridge and Kessinger led the way with two hits each.
Softball will now be back in action on Tuesday, March 22 hosting USCAA opponent Penn State Brandywine for a doubleheader. The first pitch is set for 3 p.m., while game two will start at approximately 5 p.m.