Mules Out Slug Garnet
Swarthmore pounded out thirteen hits, including a career-best three hits from third baseman Andy Bender '08, in a 9-6 loss to Muhlenberg at Clothier Fields on Friday afternoon in a game shortened by darkness.
The Swarthmore bats came alive early as Patrick Christmas '08 (above) put the Garnet ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning. The freshman stroked an RBI single to right field, scoring Jody Fisher '05 from second.
Right-hander Alex Ryan-Bond held the Mules hitless for the first four innings, using a nifty double play by shortstop Sam Faeder '07 and second baseman Christmas to stifle a Muhlenberg rally in the top of the fourth.
The Mule finally got to Ryan-Bond in the fifth with four hits, combined with pair of Swarthmore errors, to generate five runs for the 5-1 lead.
Swarthmore answered back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. Ian Adelstein '07 led off the inning with one of his two hits on the day. Travis Allen popped out to the Muhlenberg second baseman for the first out of the inning. Christmas, the Garnet team leader with ten RBIs, was the next batter up. The freshman immediately doubled home Adelstein, launching a 1-0 curveball from Mule hurler Jason Bonder to deep right field. Bender followed with a base hit, giving Swarthmore two runners on base. Faeder went down on strikes for out number two, but freshman Scott Dalane came through with a base hit, scoring Christmas to cut the Mules lead to 5-3.
Muhlenberg answered the Garnet flurry with a pair of runs off reliever Noah Cooper-Harris '07 in the top of the seventh, using two hits, a walk, and a pair of passed balls to take a 7-3 lead.
The Garnet continued to rip the ball in the bottom of the seventh when Ben Mendelson '08, Fisher, and Adelstein smacked base hits to load the bags. Designated hitter Travis Allen drove an 0-2 pitch from Mules reliever Eric Wolfer into left field, driving home both Mendelson and Fisher to cut the deficit to 7-5. Muhlenberg escaped without further damage, as Wolfer snared a come-backer off the bat of Christmas and started an inning-ending double play.
Muhlenberg generated more offense in eighth, loading the bases with two outs in the inning. Hart made the Garnet pay once again, lacing a two-run single to left to give the Mules a 9-5 lead.
The Garnet responded with a run in the bottom of the inning as Bender led off with a double. Bender would come around to score on a double play ball off the bat of Dalane. Scott Young '06 got a base hit to right and the Swarthmore bench stirred with hopes of more runs. Muhlenberg reliever Pete Lankarge quickly dispelled those thoughts, getting Young on a force out at second.
The umpires promptly ruled darkness had overtaken the playing field and it was unsafe to continue, ending the game after eight innings of play.
Bonder claimed his third win of the season for the Mules (10-4, 2-0 CC), pitching six innings, allowing three runs of seven hits while striking out nine batters.
Ryan-Bond suffered the loss for Swarthmore (2-10, 0-2 CC) spreading six hits and five runs over six innings.
Bender led the Garnet with two singles, a double, and run scored. Dalane and Christmas each had a pair of hits and two RBIs, while Adelstein contribute two singles and a run scored.
Hart had two hits and three RBIs for Muhlenberg, while Pete Oris and C.J. Kessler added two hits apiece.
Weather-permitting, Swarthmore will travel to 7th-ranked Johns Hopkins on Saturday morning for a 11:30 a.m. twin bill.