Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Senior Kristy Rubino (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany) became the first member of Gettysburg's 500-strikeout club as she fanned seven in a 3-1 victory in the opening game against visiting Haverford College on Saturday afternoon. The Fords bounced back in the nightcap, scoring three runs in their last at bat en route to a 4-1 decision.

All the runs in the first game came in the opening frame. Haverford (14-8, 7-1 CC) scored on a two-out single by Natalie Richman in the opening half of the inning. Gettysburg (17-7, 2-2 CC) came right back in the home half as freshman Adrienne Rahs (Bethlehem, Pa./Saucon Valley) belted a double down the right-field line to plate a pair of runs. The Bullets added another tally with a single by sophomore Megan MacNabb (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park), plating Rahs from third.

Haverford, the second-best hitting team in the Centennial at a .300 clip, had no answer at the plate against Rubino, who surrendered just two hits in her final six innings of work. She picked up her 500th career strikeout to end the sixth inning and added two more to start the seventh. Rubino, the school's all-time leader and the second pitcher in conference history to reach the milestone, improved to 8-4 with the victory.

Rahs finished 2-for-3 in the opener, while seniors Erin Ober (Lutherville, Md./Dulaney) and Nicole Yannotta (Whippany Park, N.J./Whippany Park) each tallied a hit for the Bullets.

Cassandra Searls (2-3) suffered the loss after allowing five hits and three runs in five innings. Richman and Candice Smith each reached base twice via a hit and a walk.

In game two, neither team generated any offense in the opening two frames, though Gettysburg put runners on second and third in its opening at bat. Haverford finally struck pay dirt in the third, as a Bullet error put runners on first and second with one out. After junior Beth McCullough (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Homestead) fanned Richman, Erin Delaney plated the game's first run with a single up the middle. The Fords were set to do more damage with runners on second and third, but a screaming liner up the middle by Laina Gagliardi was snagged by a diving Catrina DelGais (Airmont, N.Y./Suffern) to quell the threat.

Haverford pitcher Becky Garibotto kept the Bullets off-balance at the plate and the hosts managed only three base runners from the second to the sixth inning. The Fords were likewise shut down at the dish as McCullough mowed down a game-high 11 batters via strikeouts.

In the top of the seventh, the visitors finally solved the puzzle at the plate and put each of the first three batters on base via singles. After a fielder's choice eliminated the lead runner, Richman cashed in her chips with a bases-clearing double to deep left field. A single put runners on first and third with one out, but McCullough got out of the jam with a strikeout and short pop up to left.

Gettysburg tried to get a comeback going in their last at bat as senior Jessica Wallick (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) smashed a single past the third baseman to lead off the inning. A pair of ground outs put the pinch runner at third with two outs and an error by Richman gave the Bullets their first run. The rally was finally put to rest as Garibotto got Yannotta to ground out to the first baseman.

McCullough (8-3) picked up the loss after allowing nine hits and four runs (three earned). Garibotto improved to 4-2 with the victory. She allowed just five hits and one unearned run, while striking out two.

Ober tallied a pair of hits for Gettysburg, while Yannotta, Wallick, and junior Sarah Woodbury (Audobon, Pa./Mt. St. Joseph Academy) rounded out the hits.

Smith posted a pair of hits and scored twice for Haverford, while Delaney added three hits and an RBI.

Gettysburg continues its conference schedule with a doubleheader at Dickinson College on Tuesday, April 7, at 5 p.m.