Maddie Bennett, Washington College
SWARTHMORE, Pa. — Freshman pitcher Maddie Bennett (Ellicott City, Md./Mount Hebron) tossed Washington College's first-ever seven-inning no-hitter and first no-hitter of any sort in 10 years as the visiting Shorewomen completed a Centennial Conference softball double-header sweep of host Swarthmore with a 5-0 game-two win. In the opener, senior outfielder Clare Hofstedt (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) became the fifth player in Washington College softball history to reach 150 career hits as the Shorewomen posted a 9-1 win in five innings.
Washington College 9, Swarthmore 1 (Five Innings) (Game One)
How It Happened
- The Shorewomen jumped on top early with an RBI single by Maddie Bennett and an RBI ground out by Hannah Spohn in the top of the first inning. Swarthmore got a run back in the bottom of the fram when Frankie Ponziani doubled and later came around to score on an error.
- Hofstedt recorded her 150th career hit on a bunt single in the top of the second inning. Two batters later, she scored on a bases-loaded triple to right center by Elaina DiPrimio as the Washington lead grew to 5-1. DiPrimio then came across the plate on an RBI single by Bennett and Trish Langley drove in two runs with a two-out single for a six-run inning and an 8-1 cushion.
- Hofstedt plated the Shorewomen's ninth run when she stole second and came all the way around to score on a throwing error by Swarthmore catcher Bekah Katz on the play.
For the Shorewomen (18-17, 9-4 Centennial Conference)
- Hitting: Bennett (3-for-3, two RBI), DiPrimio (2-for-3, 3 RBI, run, double, triple), Hofstedt (2-for-4, 3 runs, stolen base), Allyson Meil (1-for-2, 2 runs, 2 walks, stolen base), Langley (1-for-2, 2 RBI, walk), Spohn (1-for-3, RBI, run, walk)
- Pitching: Taylor Harcum (win, 5 innings pitched, 0 walks, 6 strikeouts, two hits, 0 runs)
- As a team, the Shorewomen had 11 hits in the game.
For Swarthmore (10-21, 1-10 Centennial Conference)
- Hitting: Ponziani (1-for-2, run, double)
- Pitching: Emily Bowman (loss, 2 innings pitched, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, 8 hits, 8 earned runs), McKenzie Ward (3 innings pitched, 2 walks, 1 strikeout, 3 hits, 1 earned run)
Washington College 5, Swarthmore 0 (Game Two)
How It Happened
- The game was scoreless until Harcum drove in Paige Briganti and Spohn with a two-out single down the right-field line in the top of the fourth to give the Shorewomen a 2-0 lead.
- Hofstedt scored when Bennett reached on a fielder's choice in the top of the fifth for Washington's third run. Spohn followed with an RBI single to plate Meil and Harcum singled to drive in Bennett to make the score 5-0 in favor of the Shorewomen.
- Bennett, who retired the last 15 Swarthmore batters in order, completed her no-hitter with a strikeout of Anna Jensen. She walked one batter in the first and another to lead off the third to account for Swarthmore's only two baserunners of the game.
For the Shorewomen (19-17, 10-4 Centennial Conference)
- Hitting: Harcum (2-for-3, 3 RBI), Spohn (2-for-4, RBI, run, double), Bennett (2-for-4, RBI, run), Hofstedt (2-for-4, run, stolen base), Briganti (2-for-4, run, stolen base), DiPrimio (2-for-4)
- Pitching: Bennett (win, 7 innings pitched, 2 walks, seven strikeouts, 0 hits, 0 runs)
- The Shorewomen had 13 hits as a team in the win.
For Swarthmore (10-22, 1-11 Centennial Conference)
- Pitching: Mary Olesnavich (loss, 7 innings pitched, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts, 13 hits, five earned runs)
Notes
- The last no-hitter pitched by a Washington College softball player came on March 1st, 2006, when Emily Adams allowed no hits in her collegiate debut, a 9-1 six-inning win over Trinity (D.C.) in the Shorewomen's season opener.
- Hofstedt, who finished the day with 152 career hits, joins Lauren Dockrill '14 (221), Kylie Nottingham '14 (167), April Podolinsky '00 (167), and classmate Briganti (160) as members of the Shorewomen's 150-hit club.
- While Washington has this weekend off, the Shorewomen could clinch a spot in the four-team Centennial Conference Tournament. One loss by Muhlenberg against Ursinus, two losses by Haverford against Swarthmore, or two losses by McDaniel against Gettysburg on Saturday would secure a tournament berth for the Shorewomen.