(Carlisle, Pa.) – The Dickinson softball team swept a double-header with visiting Swarthmore College on Saturday, winning the opener, 4-2, and rallying to a 4-3 win in the nightcap. The game was also part of the StikeOut Cancer Initiative as the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and the American Cancer Society joined forces to raise awareness for the fight to find a cure for cancer.
Junior pitcher Chelsea Homa (Newton, N.J./Newton) picked up a pair of wins, throwing back-to-back complete games while recording 13 strikeouts on the day. She booked nine in the first game, scattering five hits and allowing just one earned run.
Swarthmore put a run in the board in the top of the first inning. Kate Smayda singled and scored on a single by Danielle Seltzer, after moving to second on a sacrifice bunt.
The Red Devils answered with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore Katie Swade (New Freedom, Pa./Susquehannock) led-off with a double and scored on single from senior Denise Haines (Green Lane, Pa./St. Pius X).
Melissa Osborn (Stevensville, Md./Kent Island) drew a walk and Nicole Piet (Robbinsville, N.J./Robbinsville) and Carly Jordan (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) added RBI singles to put Dickinson in front, 3-1.
The Devils added another in the second as sophomore catcher Jay Abel (Glenn Dale, Md./Elizabeth Seton) singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Swade. Abel came around to score on a single from Grace Edelson (Basking Ridge, N.J./Villa Walsh) to stretch the lead to 4-1.
Swarthmore tallied another run in the sixth inning. Smada doubled and scored on an error as she stole third base and the throw got away from the Red Devils.
Homa recorded back-to-back strikeouts and added another in the seventh as the Devils held on for a 4-2 victory. Jordan led the offense, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Game two started off much the same as the opener. Smayda reached on an error this time, but came in to score on another RBI from Seltzer to put the Garnet on top, 1-0.
The Red Devils did answer with three runs again, as well, but not until the third inning this time. The Devils used five hits, including an RBI double from Haines. Abel reached on a fielder's choice and scored off an RBI from Casey Ditzler (Cleona, Pa./Annville-Cleona).
Swade singled and scored on a double steal before Edelson drew a walk and scored in Haines' double for a 3-1 lead.
Suness Jones tripled and scored on a single from Chlesea Matzko to tie the game, 3-3, in the top of the sixth.
Edelson wasted little time taking the lead back in the bottom of the inning. The first-year launched the first pitch over the left field fence to give the Devils a 4-3 lead with her fourth homerun of the season.
The Devils held on defense to complete the sweep and improve to 13-17 overall and 3-6 in the Centennial Conference.
Swade went 2-for-2 with a run scored in the nightcap while Edelson scored twice and added an RBI on her homerun. Homa improved to 7-7 on the season with a pair of complete game efforts.
The Red Devils travel to Muhlenberg College on Tuesday for a 3:00 pm double-header with the Mules.
