As the spring weather is heating up, so is Swarthmore’s softball team. The Garnet currently sit atop the standings in the Centennial Conference with an 11-1 conference record and are in position to secure the top seed in the upcoming postseason tournament. Seeking to solidify that standing, Swarthmore enters a decisive six-game stretch, including four conference matchups. This past week, the Garnet added three conference wins to their record while taking their first Centennial loss to Gettysburg College. Swarthmore’s ability to stay consistent across these next doubleheaders will be a key indicator of how they execute under postseason pressure.
Swarthmore College vs. Gettysburg College: 1-1
This past Saturday, Swarthmore traveled to Gettysburg, PA, for a competitive Centennial Conference doubleheader against Gettysburg College.
The opening game saw a tightly contested pitchers’ duel, with neither team scoring through seven innings. The Garnet finally broke through in the top of the eighth when Regan Valenzuela ’28 scored on a double from Serafina Tinio ’27. However, Gettysburg responded in the bottom half of the inning, plating two runs to walk it off and take the 2-1 game.
Swarthmore quickly bounced back in dominant fashion in Game 2, exploding for a 14–3, five-inning victory. The Garnet earned its first point in the second inning when Emilee Espinoza ’28 crossed home plate on a single from Kate Borza ’27. The offense continued to roll as Ava Babcock ’27 delivered a double to left field for Borza and Tinio to score. The last point of the second inning was scored by Elisabeth O’Connor ’27 from Iris Barone’s ’26 single to left field.
In the third inning, O’Connor extended the lead with a double to left field. The play allowed Lia Fong ’28 and Babcock to reach home plate.
The Garnet kept the pressure on in the fourth inning, as Espinoza and Linnaea Rasmussen ’28 ran home from Babcock’s single. Fong followed with a double that brought home Babcock and Borza, before O’Connor capped off the offensive outburst with a triple to right-center that allowed Fong to score, followed by another run on a wild pitch.
Swarthmore College vs. Haverford College: 2-0
Swarthmore hosted Haverford College on Tuesday to take two conference wins.
Game 1 remained scoreless through five innings as both teams battled through strong pitching performances. Swarthmore broke through in the bottom of the sixth when Rasmussen singled up the middle to bring home Barone. In the same sequence, Valenzuela advanced to third while Rasmussen moved into scoring position. The Garnet added another run moments later on a wild pitch, allowing Valenzuela to score and extend the lead.
Haverford responded in the seventh with a solo home run to cut the deficit to 2–1, but Swarthmore held on behind timely pitching and defensive execution to secure the win.
Game 2 quickly turned into a back-and-forth offensive battle. The Garnet struck first in the opening inning after Espinoza reached first on a throwing error, allowing Barone to score. Borza followed with a single down the left-field line to bring home Rasmussen, and Espinoza ran home unearned, giving Swarthmore a 3–0 lead after the first.
Haverford answered in the second, but Swarthmore responded immediately. O’Conner scored on Valenzuela’s single, and Barone scored shortly after. Haverford scored to close out the 4th inning with a one-point 6-5 lead.
The fifth innings saw Haverford score before Swarthmore responded with a double from O’Connor for Babcock and Jazziah Manning’s ’29 runs, tying the game at 7–7. Moments later, Valenzuela delivered a clutch two-run single to center field to put the Garnet back in front 9–7. The late offensive push carried the Garnet into a 9–7 victory.
Looking Ahead
With the regular season entering its final stretch, Swarthmore faces No. 19-ranked Stockton College on Thursday. The Garnet then matches up against Washington College and Dickinson College to close out the regular season.
