Pioneers Double Up Swarthmore
Widener used a seven-run fifth inning to cruise to a 14-7 victory over the Garnet in a non-conference match-up in Chester, Pa. on Saturday afternoon.
Center fielder Scott Dalane '08 cracked a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the second inning to put Swarthmore in an early 2-1 lead .
The Garnet appeared in control as hurler Jared Leiderman '05 cruised through four innings of work, limiting the Pioneers to one unearned run on a single hit while fanning four.
Swarthmore extended the lead to 4-1 in the top of the fifth as senior first baseman Jody Fisher singled home two runs.
Widener quickly took away the Swarthmore momentum, jumping on the Garnet bullpen with five hits in the fatal bottom of the fifth. Right fielder Ryan Shoultes provided the majority of the damage, launching a bases-clearing triple in his second at bat of the inning. By the time the dust had settled, Widener lead 8-4.
The Pioneers added another run in the sixth and two more in the seventh to extend their advantage to 11-4.
Swarthmore put together a rally in the top of the eighth, drawing four consecutive walks from Widener reliever Bob Quaile to push a run across. Widener brought in reliever Tom Pletcher, who immediately induced catcher Ben Mendelson '08 into a double play. Dalane scored on the play, cutting the lead to 11-6. Pletcher retired Andrew Bender '08 on a ground ball to end the Garnet rally.
Widener pushed three more runs across of Swarthmore reliever Noah Cooper-Harris '07 in the bottom of the eighth, and Pletcher shut the door in the ninth to send the Pioneers to their seventh straight win.
Fisher led Swarthmore with two hits and two RBIs, while Dalane, Sam Faeder '07, Travis Allen '08, Ian Adelstein '07, and Scott Young '06 had hits.
Zac Rider took the loss for the Garnet (2-8).
Swarthmore opens their Centennial Conference schedule on Tuesday, March 29th, when they travel to Muhlenberg College for a 3:00 p.m. game.