By Aaron Rodenhausen
Incoming Editor-in-Chief
The Washington College softball team reached the end of their regular season with four Centennial Conference games last week. First, the Shorewomen hosted the Garnet of Swarthmore College on April 21, then they traveled to Franklin & Marshall College on April 24.
The visiting Garnet was the first to score on Tuesday, doing so in the top of the second inning. Freshman outfielder Emma Trainer made the first hit for the home team in the bottom of the inning, and a sacrifice bunt by senior utility player Jenna Harper moved her to second. However, the Shorewomen could not complete the diamond in time. Swarthmore scored the only other runs of the game in the top of the sixth inning and finished out the contest 4-0.
The Garnet carried that momentum into the second game of the day, charging ahead to another 4-0 lead during the top of the first inning. The Shorewomen were quicker to respond this time. Senior infielder Gracelyn Goforth singled to left field and was retired on a fielder’s choice by fellow senior infielder Lilly Wenzel. A double by Trainer moved Wenzel to third, and a Harper single sent her home. The Shorewomen left the inning down 4-1.
The second inning was WC’s strongest yet. A Goforth walk loaded the bases, and a Wenzel double to deep center field cleared them. After three consecutive runs, the game was tied, 4-4. However, the Shorewomen could not prevent the Garnet from accelerating to victory in the latter half of the game. Four runs in the top of the sixth clinched the 9-4 win for the visiting team.
With that, Swarthmore ascended to 28-8 on the season and 12-1 in the Centennial. The Shorewomen fell to 10-26 and 4-10, respectively.
“The greatest challenge we faced was getting our bats going against their All-American pitcher,” sophomore pitcher Anna Hutchinson said. “Our defense kept us in the game, but we could not produce enough hits or hits when needed to come out on top.”
On Friday, the Shorewomen went on the road to Lancaster, Pa. to face the Diplomats of F&M. The WC team did not manage to score until the top of the sixth inning, when Goforth and Trainer each completed a run. However, those were the last runs of the game, which concluded in F&M’s favor, 5-2.
Both teams remained scoreless for the first three innings of game two, until the Diplomats batted in seven runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Shorewomen replied with two runs of their own in the top of the fifth.
The comeback continued in the sixth inning when freshman infielder Grace Allen made a sacrifice bunt and sent freshman outfielder Lindsay Worley home. Senior outfielder Julia Weglarz then put Allen across the plate, narrowing the deficit to 7-4.
The Shorewomen scored one final goal in the seventh inning, but the game came to a close after a strikeout. F&M claimed victory, 7-5, and improved to 16-19 overall and 8-7 in the conference. Meanwhile, the Shorewomen slipped to 10-27 and 4-11, respectively.
The defeat signaled the conclusion of the Shorewomen’s hard-fought 2026 season. Nonetheless, a challenging slate provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen team bonds.
“I love this team, and we had the talent to make it further!” Weglarz said.
With renewed resolve, the Shorewomen are sure to go far next year.
Photo Caption: Senior infielder Gracelyn Goforth was walked to load the bases in the second inning against Swarthmore College.
Photo courtesy of WC Athletics