Garnet Split with Eastern
SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Righthander Alex Ryan-Bond '07 allowed just three hits and no earned runs as the host Garnet won game two 3-2 to salvage a doubleheader split with Eastern University on a windy Saturday afternoon. Eastern defeated Swarthmore 17-12 in game 1.
In game one, Swarthmore took an early 4-2 lead with a pair of runs in the second inning. Second baseman Kevin Kooi '09 drew one of his three game-one walks, movd to second on a groundout, and scampered home on a Scott Young '06 double. Young moved to third on a wild pitch, and RBI machine Patrick Christmas '08 got the job done with a sacrifice fly to right.
Eastern starter Tim Hoskins bore down, though, and the Eagles bats got hot against Garnet hurler Sean Varsoloa '09. The visitors plated eight runs over the next three innings to take a 10-4 lead before blowing the game open with a seven-run sixth. Eastern strung together five singles and a walk before finally getting the big hit, a two-run double, from designated hitter Matt LeSeur.
Swarthmore stayed calm, though, and responded with five runs of heir own in the bottom half of the sixth. Young got the rally going with his third hit of the day, catcher Andy Bender '08 smashed a two-run double, and shortstop Conor Casey '09 brought in two more with a single.
But Swarthmore was quickly running out of innings, and even after a three-run seventh, fell short by five runs.
All of the game two scoring came in the fourth frame. Eastern used two Garnet errors and a Matt Hohn double to pick up two unearned runs in the top half, but Swarthmore responded.
Christmas and centerfielder Ian Adelstein '07 led off with singles, and sophomore DH Travis Allen and Bender drew walks, the latter forcing in a run. A wild pitch allowed Adelstein to score, and Scott Dalane '08 came through with a sac fly, driving in the game-winning run.
Eastern put men on first and third with one out in the top of the sixth, but Casey and first baseman Sam Faeder '07 turned an inning-ending double play. The Eagles threated once again in the seventh, getting a man to third after a wild pitch, but Ryan-Bond got LeSour to fly out to preserve the victory.
Ryan-Bond scattered four hits over seven innings, walking two and striking out three.
Bender finished the day 5-for-7 with a pair of doubles. Adelstein also had four hits, while Young added three.
Faeder slapped a single in each game, extending his season-long hit streak to nine games.
The Garnet return to action on Tuesday, travelling to Philadelphia Biblical for a 3:00 p.m. contest.