Softball Bounces Back to Sweep Diplomats in Lancaster

Casey Ditzler ’16 contributed an RBI double and strong defense in the 6-3 loss against Muhleberg.
Casey Ditzler ’16 contributed an RBI double and strong defense in the 6-3 loss against Muhleberg.

 

Over the past week the Dickinson Softball team played two doubleheaders. On April 17, the Red Devils were swept by Muhlenberg College, 10-1 and 6-3. On April 19, Coach Richwine’s squad was able to turn around and sweep Franklin and Marshall 4-2 and 1-0.

At home against Muhlenberg, Dickinson struggled to put runs on the board against the conference leading Mules. Muhlenberg jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the second inning thanks to some clutch hitting. Dickinson would get on the board in the bottom of the second when Nicole Piet ’16 started off the inning with a single and would later score when Michelle Orden ’17 was able to secure a walk with the bases loaded. With the score at 3-1, the game would be put out of reach when the Mules scored 6 runs in a big top of the sixth.

The back end of the double header was a much closer contest. The Red Devils jumped out to an early 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first thanks to a throwing error by the Muhlenberg right fielder and then an RBI double by Casey Ditzler ’16. The Mules tacked on one run in both the second and third to take a 3-2 lead before Dickinson answered right back on a Stacie Maring ‘16 RBI single. The game would remain tied until the top of the sixth when the Mules scored three runs to pull away and eventually win 6-3. Despite being swept, the Red Devils put up a valiant effort against the best team in the conference.

Two days later the softball team was back at it against familiar foe Franklin and Marshall. Piet would score in the second on a Becca Garlinger ’15 bunt single but the Red Devils remained down a run. This lasted until the fifth inning when Garlinger would tie the game up thanks to a Katie Swade ‘15 single.

Knotted at 2-2, Dickinson scored two runs in the top of sixth. Piet would again score, this time after another Garlinger single. Nicole Torlincasi ’17 would score Dickinson’s fourth run to seal the win. Chelsea Homa went the entire seven innings once again and got the win to improve to 9-9 on the season.

In the nightcap it was truly a pitcher’s duel as scoring was at a premium. The lone run of the game came in the top of the seventh for Dickinson when Piet singled and scored due to a mishandled ball by the Franklin and Marshall second baseman. With the 1-0 win Dickinson was able to sweep an impressive Diplomat team.

The Red Devils are now 10-20 overall and 6-10 in conference. Their conference schedule is over; they have five non-conference games over the next week to conclude the season.

First, they take on Juniata at home on Thursday, April 24 before travelling to Frostburg St. on Saturday, April 26. They conclude the season on Tuesday, April 29 at Penn. St- Mont Alto.