CARLISLE, Pa. - The Dickinson softball team knew coming into Saturday afternoon that a split against the conference-leading Shorewomen of Washington College would be enough to earn them a spot in next week's conference tournament. The Red and White would waste no time in securing exactly that taking game one 3-1, before falling in the back-half 7-3 at Dickinson Park.
Game One (DEVILS 3, Shorewomen 1)
Records: Washington 19-16-1, 10-5 CC | Dickinson 11-20, 8-7 CC
Time of Game: 1:32
Pitching Decision: W -
Abby Kohan (5-6) | L - Lexi Barnhart (8-8)
Inside the Game
After Kohan pitched around two base runners in the top of the first, Dickinson needed just two batters during the home-half to take the lead as
Jessie Sandusky walked before a
Jane Lloyd double drove her in. A single for
Eden Blanker put players at the corners with no outs for
Zoe Kleeblatt who stepped up and ripped a two-bagger to right-center scoring both for a 3-0 advantage through one. Following a quiet second, Washington had a chance during the third with two on and two out, but Lilly Wenzel grounded out to retire the side. Over next two innings the only base runners would come on walks as both sides drew two each. However, none of them would ever make it all the way back home as the game went to sixth still at 3-0. Then in the top of the sixth, the Shorewomen put runners at first and second with one out thanks to an error and a single, fortunately, Kohan got a groundout and lineout to prevent any damage. After Dickinson went down one-two-three in the bottom-half, the visitors would use three singles to produce one run during the seventh before Kohan got Barnhart to flyout to Lloyd in center ending the game.
Devils Circle Report
Kohan earned the win going the full seven innings allowing nine hits and just one run with four strikeouts and three walks on 126 pitches.
Game Two (Shorewomen 7, DEVILS 3)
Records: Washington 20-16-1, 11-5 CC | Dickinson 11-21, 8-8 CC
Time of Game: 1:48
Pitching Decision: W - Brynn Balliet (5-3) | L -
Erin McMahon (3-6)
Inside the Game
Washington took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first courtesy of an error and single. However, Dickinson had an answer during the home-half as Sandusky singled and then was joined on the cushions by Kleeblatt after working a walk. That brought McMahon to the dish trying to help herself out which is exactly what she did with an RBI single up the middle knotting things at 1-1 through one. The game stayed tied into the last of the third when the Red and White appeared to mount a threat as both Sandusky and Lloyd reached to start, but then the next three batters were retired in order to keep the score where it was. Two triples, a double and a single within the first five hitters of the fourth resulted in three crossing the dish for the Shorwomen making it 4-1. That led to
Kaylie Renner going to the circle and she allowed an RBI single to Chloe Trefz, before getting Hannah Solge to flyout ending the rally. The visitors used a double and single to open the lead to 5-1 in fifth. However, the Devils did not go down without a fight as during the last of the sixth singles by
Emma Glosson and McMahon coupled with a walk to Renner loaded the bags with two out for Sandusky. She smoked a two-run single through the right-side cutting it down to 6-3. Unfortunately, a popup by Blanker stalled the attack. A triple to leadoff the seventh, followed by a sacrifice fly pushed the lead to 7-3 with Dickinson facing "last call". Singles for Kleeblatt and McMahon along with a free pass to Glosson brought the tying run to the dish in Laia Gwathmey with two gone, but she grounded out to second ending the game.
Devils Circle Report
McMahon suffered the loss going 3.1 innings giving up six hits and five runs (four earned) with one strikeout and one walk. Renner hurled the remaining 3.2 frames allowing five hits and two runs.
The On-Deck Circle
Dickinson (11-21, 8-8 Centennial) will now head to Allentown on Tuesday for the 4/5 play-in game against the Mules of Muhlenberg College. The winner of that game will earn the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament and head to Washington College on Thursday to continue their run in the tournament. Tuesday's game time will be announced on Monday morning.
