Nicole Torlincasi, Dickinson
CARLISLE, Pa. - The Dickinson softball team swept a double-header from Ursinus College to open Centennial Conference play on Sunday afternoon. The Red Devils had a big sixth inning to win game one, 7-3, and erupted again in the nightcap for an 8-4 decision.
The Bears struck first, scoring three unearned runs in the top of the third inning. Delia Mercurio doubled to score two runs as they capitalized in Red Devil errors to take a 3-0 lead.
Sophomore outfielder Nicole Torlincasi (King's Park, N.Y./King's Park) cut the deficit to one with a two-run homer over the left field fence after Michelle Orden (Hillsdale, N.J./Pascack Valley) reached on an error as she looked to bunt her way on.
Junior Nicole Piet (Robbinsville, N.J./Robbinsville) singled to lead-off the fifth and moved to second on a wild pitch. She came in to score, pulling the Devils even as Casey Ditzler (Cleona, Pa./Annville-Cleona) reached on a single.
The Devils erupted for four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for the 7-3 win. Katie Swade (New Freedom, Pa./Susquehannock) singled to lead-off and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Orden. Torlincasi singled up the middle to score Swade before Grace Edelson (Basking Ridge, N.J./Villa Walsh) and Ditzler each drew walks to load the bases.
Senior Becca Garlinger (Enola, Pa./East Pennsboro) drove in two runs with a single to left field to help secure the win.
Torlincasi went 3-for-4 in game one, driving in three runs and scoring twice. Piet went 2-for-3 with a runs scored. First-year pitcher Emily Rosenberg (Fredericksburg, Va./Massaponax) improved to 5-0 on the season, tossing a three-hitter while recording five strikeouts.
Game two was much similar to the opener as the lead went back-and-forth until the Devils had another big sixth inning. Casey Derella put the Bears on the board with a homerun to lead-off the game.
The Devils answered immediately as Piet doubled to score Edelson, and came all the way around to score on an Ursinus error, putting Dickinson on top, 2-1.
Orden reached on a fielder's choice in the third inning and came in to score on a two-out double by Edelson to give the Devils the lead. Edelson drove in another run, scoring Swade in the fifth after she led-off the inning with a base-hit.
That put Dickinson in front, 4-2, but the Bears weren't quite done yet. They rallied to pull even in the top of the sixth inning with a pair of RBIs from Ellen Goldstein and Zoe Heinke.
The Red Devils put together a solid insurance policy in the bottom of the inning, scoring four runs to regain the lead, 8-4. Garlinger singled but was replaced at first on a fielder's choice off the bat of Nicole Clayton (Chadds Ford, Pa./Garnet Valley).
Jay Abell (Glenn Dale, Md./Elizabeth Seton) singled and Helen Roberts (Oakton, Va./Oakton) came on to pinch-run. Swade connected with another base-hit to score Clayton and moved Roberts over to third. Swade stole second and Oden reached on a fielder's choice and Roberts drew a throw, allowing Orden to load the bases.
Torlancasi lined a shot to third base. Rachel Hyman knocked the ball down but could not hold on, setting up a force at home. Roberts, who had to retreat on the line drive, headed for home as the throw was dropped and she scored safely. Edelson lined a pitch to left field, but an errant throw into the infield to hold the runners went out of play, scoring two more runs to close out the inning.
The Bears put two runners on base, but they would be stranded as the Devils closed the door, sweeping the conference opener.
Edelson went 2-for-4 with two RBIs in the nightcap. Swade finished 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Orden scored twice and played solid defense in both games at second base.
Clayton earned the win, allowing just one earned run in three innings. Rosenberg came on for the save as the Devils improve to 10-1 overall and start 2-0 in the conference.
The Bears slip to 6-7 overall and 0-2 in the conference. Dickinson travels to McDaniel College on Tuesday, and returns home for a 5:00 pm double-header with Elizabethtown on Thursday.