Hanover
Dartmouth slipped past Pennsylvania, 4-1, in the first game of the teams’ doubleheader before blowing the Quakers out of town with a 12-1 result in the second contest. Karen Chaw’s extra-innings home run ended the initial contest and an 11-run fourth inning took care of business during the nightcap. The Big Green had a combined 24 hits during the day.
“We have the ability, one through nine in the order, to hit the ball like that and when we do, it’s impressive to see,” said senior shortstop Katie McEachern, who had three hits and two RBIs and extended a hitting streak to 15 games. “Teams will walk someone who’s doing well but then they have to face Karen Chaw or me or Maddie (Damore). We have real depth to our lineup this year.”
Dartmouth, 17-9 overall and 6-0 in Ivy League play, has faced Penn in each of the last three Ivy League championship series. The Quakers (13-14, 2-4) won the first time, in Philadelphia during 2013, but have lost the last two matchups in Hanover, allowing the Big Green to advance to NCAA regional play.
Friday, Quakers star Alexis Sargent struck out 10 batters during the first game but also allowed seven hits. Dartmouth tied the game, 1-1, during the sixth inning when Lourlin Lara beat out an infield hit, stole second and scored on Morgan Martinelli’s single through the right side.
Dartmouth starter Morgan McCalmon (10-3) retired the side in order in the eighth and Lara led off the Big Green’s half of the inning with a triple. Martinelli was intentionally walked and Chaw blasted her third home run of the season over the left-field fence for a walk-off victory.
“It’s always good to see us swing the bats that way,” said second-year Dartmouth coach Shannon Doepking. “Defensively, we’ve had a lot of miscues earlier this season, so to see them clean those up is a growing moment for our team.”
Dartmouth made one error Friday and just as importantly, got a strong pitching performance during the second game from sophomore Breanna Ethridge, who allowed two hits and one run in 4½ innings. The Georgia native, who threw only 11 innings last season, struck out two batters and walked one during a contest halted by the mercy rule.
“We’re all so proud of her and how hard she’s worked,” McEachern said. “She’s always been a pitcher who’s hit spots really well, but now her pitches have even more spin on them and they’re almost untouchable.”
McCalmon, a senior who was Dartmouth’s No. 2 hurler the past three years, allowed two hits and one run while striking out six Quakers and walking two. The Oklahoman seems to have answered any questions about whether she would be ready to top the Big Green’s pitching staff.
“Morgan’s a competitor, and I love that about the kid,” Doepking said. “If you can get her competitive drive channeled in the right direction, she’s tough to beat. I don’t think she’s changed that much. She loves the position she’s in.”
Producing five hits and two RBIs Friday was freshman second baseman Martinelli, who hails from the southern end of California’s Silicon Valley, down the 101 freeway from San Jose. A product of that city’s high-profile Sting travel club program, Martinelli leads Dartmouth with a .429 batting average, is second in slugging percentage at .629 and has started each of the 22 games in which she’s appeared.
“Our success is about kids that we bring into the program and making them aware of our expectations,” Doepling said. “As the years go on, we bring in more talent and more talent and it’s fun watching what unfolds on the field. Morgan is just a strong kid who hits the ball really well.”
Notes: The games were played in weather that included bursts of fairly heavy snow, light rain, wind gusts up to 25 mph and bright sun. … Dartmouth’s 11-run outburst during the second game’s fourth inning include a solo home run, a two-run home run and a three-run blast. … Three of Penn’s outfielders and McEachern each wore sweatshirts while in the field. … Dartmouth’s batting helmets this season feature decals depicting strings of interconnected ivy leaves along the sides. … Video of the game was broadcast on the Ivy League Digital Network. The broadcast began with two cameras, one inside the press box and another on a platform atop the first-base bleachers. A snow squall during the second game’s fourth inning, however, necessitated the temporary removal of the latter camera, which did not have a waterproof cover. The operator. a young woman on a work-study assignment, wrapped herself completely in a blanket while on the job.
Tris Wykes can be reached at twykes@vnews.com or 603-727-3227.