Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Swarthmore
Today marked the third day of competition for Fighting Scots softball in their spring training trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C. as they faced non-conference opponents Swarthmore and Albertus Magnus. With an 11-3 loss and a 10-2 win, respectively, Gordon moves to 2-4 in this year’s campaign.
 
In game one, errors plagued the Scots’ play, totaling six that amounted to eight unearned runs for Swarthmore on the day. Gordon’s Skylar Bareford (Jr./Stonington, Conn.) is charged with the loss after three and two thirds innings of work, allowing eight hits and one walkwhile tallying three strikeouts and just one earned run.
 
The Garnet were led by junior third baseman Rose Pitkin (West Springfield, Mass going 3-4 with five RBIs including a triple that brought in two runs in the first. In the bottom of the inning a walk, sacrifice bunt, and an error put the Scots on the board, down 2-1, a score that would hold until the top of the fourth inning. 
 
Back-to-back singles from Emma Madarasz (So./Mendham, N.J.) and Erin Curits (Sr./Silverdale, Wash.), followed by a Gordon error allowed the Garnet’s first run to score in the fourth. With two outs and the bases loaded, Danielle Seltzer (Sr./West Orange, N.J.)  stepped up to the plate and ripped a double down the left field line to clear the bases and stretch Swarthmore’s lead to 6-1. Pitkin would single to bring in Seltzer for the final run of the inning.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Gordon worked to mount a comeback as they loaded the bases with one out to bring first baseman Hannah Towers (Valley Cottage, N.Y.) up to bat. Towers singled to right center with freshman catcher Hope Zigterman (Villa Park, Ill.) matching with an RBI single of her own after a pitching change to set the score at 7-3. With the bases loaded the Garnet managed to close out the inning with Christen Boas-Hayes (Fr./Havertown, Pa.) striking out two and quelling the Scots’ retaliation.
 
Swarthmore went on to score three more runs in the top of the fifth to give them an eight-run lead that would end the game early for Gordon. 
 
On the mound for the Garnet was Chelsea Matzko (So./Torrington, Conn.) with three runs on four hits and three walks, striking out five. Boas-Hayes came in for one and two thirds innings, striking out four of six batters faced and allowing just one hit.
 
The Garnet will head back to Swarthmore, Pa. for a doubleheader against Widener on March 19 beginning at 3:00 p.m.
 
Albertus Magnus
Game two brought the Scots to even on the day with a five-inning, 10-2 win over the Albertus Magnus Falcons. Gordon’s Beardslee pitched a no-hitter, striking out six in the Scots’ victory. Bareford lead the way from the plate as the designated player going 3-4 with two RBIs including a walk-off double that brought in the 10^th run in the bottom of the fifth.
 
After Albertus Magnus’ Elaina Maio (So./Wast Haven, Conn.) lined out to center field allowing Brittney Urciuoli (So./Newington, Conn.) to score from third, the Scots used patience at the plate to take the lead for good in the bottom of the first. Sophomore shortstop Rachel Ryder (Telford, Pa.) walked, moved to second on a Kara Pepper (So./Wykcoff, N.J.) sac bunt, and stole third to put her in scoring position. Gianna Palermo (Fr./Hope, R.I.) tied the game at 1-1 with a single up the middle that brought Ryder around. Singles from Kiersten Bieren (Fr./Groton, Mass.) and Alyssa Unumb (Fr./Bedford, Mass.) loaded the bases, allowing Towers to draw the walk that sent Palermo across the plate to give Gordon the lead.
 
The Scots would break open the game in the bottom of the third and continue to build their lead, scoring at least once every inning of the game with RBIs coming from five different players. Errors and walks loaded the bases again for Gordon when Pepper tripled to center, clearing the bases and giving the Scots the 7-1 lead. Bareford then singled, scoring Pepper, and pushed the lead even further. After capitalizing on Falcon errors to score once in the fourth, a single from Ryder and a Bareford double ended the game in the bottom of the fifth, 10-2.
 
The Scots have their final day of spring training tomorrow, March 15, beginning with a game against Waldorf at 9 a.m. with a rematch against Albertus Magnus slated for 11 a.m.