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Extra-Inning Walk-Off Gives Garnet Softball Doubleheader Sweep

Kate Smayda '13
Pitcher and outfielder Kate Smayda '13
Kate Smayda ['13]'s RBI single with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning of Thursday's second game with Arcadia gave the Swarthmore softball team (14-14) a thrilling doubleheader sweep of the Knights. Behind a great outing from starting pitcher Sarina Lowe ’14, Swat cruised in the first game by a score of 6-1. Smayda's dramatics and towering home runs from Elizabeth Cushing '12 and Nicole Aaron '14 gave the Garnet a 6-5 (9 innings) victory in the second game.

Game 1

Lowe befuddled Arcadia batters all game on the mound, allowing just three hits and one run over seven innings to lead the Garnet to a 6-1 victory.

Smayda, Cushing and Emma Madarasz '15 all hits doubles as part of multi-hit games, while Aaron and Rose Pitkin '13 each finished the game with a pair of singles.

Swarthmore put up three runs in each of the third and fifth innings to complete its scoring.

In the third, Smayda got it started with a one-out double down the left line and was followed by a single from Jesslyn Lammerts '14. Then with runners on, Aaron, Pitkin and Cushing hit three consecutive RBI singles to make it a 3-0 game.

In the fifth inning, Madarasz knocked home two runs with an RBI double to left center and Laurie Sellars '15 brought home the final run of the game with an RBI single to left field

Game 2

In the second game, the Garnet worked around two home runs from Arcaida's Leanda Helms to rally for the 6-5 extra innings win.

Down 1-0 in the third due to Helms' first blast, the Garnet built a commanding 5-1 lead thanks to its own power hitters. Aaron brought home three runs thanks to a mammoth shot over the left-center fence and Cushing knocked in two more with a tower shot that sailed just right of the foul pole.

A 5-2 game in the top of the fifth, the Knights tied the contest with Helms' second home run of the game, this time a three-run dinger to dead center field.

The score remained 5-5 right into extra innings. With international tiebreaker rules in effect in the bottom of the ninth, Sellars advanced runner Samantha Bennett ’13 to third base with a ground out to second. With the winning run just 60 feet away, Smayda drilled a ball into the outfield to bring home the winning run.

Swarthmore returns to action on Saturday to host Dickinson in Centennial doubleheader action. Action begins at 1:00 pm with Senior Day ceremonies taking place between games.

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