Great Scott, Garnet Top Fords
HAVERFORD, Pa. -- Swarthmore junior centerfielder Scott Dalane had four hits, including his first career home run, while sophomore leftfielder Grant Yoshitsu drove in a career-high four runs as the visiting Garnet downed long-time rival Haverford 14-8 Friday afternoon in Centennial Conference baseball action.
Swarthmore (4-20, 2-12 CC) picks up its first win over the Fords (15-10, 6-6 CC) since the 2004 season, picking up season-highs in hits and runs, while ending a five-game win streak by
The Garnet scored the first four runs of the game off Fords starter Jason Miller in the top of the first. The first Swarthmore run came on a double steal by freshman right fielder Jimmy Gill and Dalane. Swarthmore loaded the bases as the Fords third baseman mishandled a potential double-play ball. Conor Casey '09 cashed in for the visitors, smoking a double down the right-field line to bring home two runs for Swarthmore. Senior Noah Cooper-Harris made it 4-0 Garnet by grounding ball to the right-side to score junior Travis Allen.
Haverford struck back in the bottom of the third as Ben Einbinder and Ryan Stephens nailed back-to-back home runs to make it 4-3. Einbinder flashed his power with a two-run opposite field blast to right, his sixth of the season, and then Stephens hit the first pitch he saw for a solo shot over the left-field fence.
Swarthmore's offense continued to roll in the top of the fourth, using five hits to score five runs, building a 9-3 lead. Yoshitu collected the big hit in the inning, smoking a two-out, bases-loaded double to right-centerfield off Haverford reliever Justin Marlowe, clearing the bases in the process.
The Garnet blew the game open in the sixth as freshman Wiley Archibald hit a lead-off double, Dalane followed with a perfectly placed bunt single and Justin Chen '08 drove in Archibald with a single to left. Gill was hit by a pitch, loading the bases and Yoshitsu drove in his fourth run of the game on a fielder's choice.
Swarthmore added three more in the seventh, highlighted by Dalane's first career-home run. Cooper-Harris led off the inning with his first triple of the season and came into score on a sacrifice fly by catcher Andy Bender '08. Archibald pushed a bunt single just past the pitcher's mound and moved over to third as a Haverford pick-off attempt went astray. Dalane skied a two-run round-tripper three pitches later, putting the Garnet in front 14-3.
Haverford started to comeback in the bottom of the seventh as catcher Will Stafford golfed a two-out, two-run homer to left, cutting Swarthmore's lead to 14-7. Two Garnet relievers, Dylan Smith '09 and Chen, allowed just two hits the rest of the way to close out the victory.
Dalane put up an impressive stat line, going 4-for-6 with four runs scored and three RBIs. He also stole a base and tracked down seven fly-balls in the outfield. Archibald was a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored while Bender and Chen both collected two hits for Swarthmore.
Freshman Zach Sinemus (2-3) won his second consecutive start while striking out two batters in 6.2 innings. Miller (0-1) suffered the loss for the Fords, lasting only 3.2 innings while giving up nine runs.
Swarthmore hosts a Centennial doubleheader on Saturday, April 21 at 12:30 p.m., welcoming Gettysburg College to Clothier Fields.