HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College softball team (13-17, 8-4 CC) was in action for a Senior Day doubleheader at Class of '95 Field on Saturday, Prior to the game, Haverford honored its senior class of Maya Casey, Genevieve Dallmeyer-Drennen, Michelle Kaplan, Phoebe May, and Emily Reinstadtler.
Haverford took both games of the doubleheader with Franklin & Marshall (15-19, 2-12 CC) as the Centennial Conference playoff race heats up, taking the first game 9-3 and the second by a 3-2 final.
Haverford got things started in the first inning, behind the support from the large crowd. After an infield single, Carly Parsons advanced to first base, then immediately stole second base. Next, Abby Marquis stepped up to the plate for a double to right field, and Parsons ran home to secure the RBI for Marquis.
Marquis had it going again in the second inning. The junior doubled to left-center field to drive in two runs from Kaila Uyeda and Parsons. Her hit pushed the score to 4-0, as the Fords couldn't have asked for a better start. However, Haverford actually must have asked for a better start because Nikki Kingsland fired a three-run shot over the left-field fence with Mia Kessinger and Marquis on base.
The hits kept coming even with two outs. Senior Phoebe May singled to right field, and Tessa Pearlstein singled down the left-field line. Maddie Etheridge faced a full count with her teammates on first and second, but the inning finally came to an end after she struck out swinging.
The Diplomats got on the board at the top of the third, but Maya Casey's day was still relatively smooth. The senior only allowed one hit through the first three innings and finished the game with four-inning pitched and allowing four hits. To no one's surprise, Marquis recorded her fourth RBI of the day when she reached first base on a fielding error with two runners in scoring position. Haverford took two runs in that inning, making the score 9-2.
Franklin & Marshall scored the game's final run in the fifth inning, while Alexa Finkele made a stellar play for the last out. In relief, Finkele pitched three innings, allowing one run to secure her first save of the season. Parsons finished the game with three runs and two hits to her ledger.
Game two started much like the first. Haverford took a three-run lead after a Marquis RBI double down the right-field line and Kessinger's two-RBI double to right-center. However, the Diplomats held the Fords scoreless for the remainder of the game after that explosive first inning.
Rachel McQueen got the start, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing two runs. Maya Casey returned for game two and was credited with the win after pitching 3.1 innings with one strikeout and allowing zero runs.
Kessinger was the star of game two with two extra-base hits and two RBI. The Fords finished with six hits and four left on base.
The Fords have now won seven of their last ten games and look to keep things moving when they travel to conference-leading Swarthmore on Tuesday, April 26. The matchup with the Garnet is a doubleheader with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. with the second game to follow at 5 p.m.