Dips Take Down Garnet
LANCASTER, Pa.-- Swarthmore freshman Wiley Archibald had a team-high three hits as the Garnet fell in both games of a Centennial baseball doubleheader Saturday afternoon at snowy Franklin & Marshall College.
The Diplomats (12-8 overall, 6-1 CC) got a five-strikeout, six-hit complete game win from starter Dan Tischler (3-0), plating three runs in the fourth inning to capture game one by a score of 6-2. F&M, the 2006 Centennial Conference champions, busted out for 15 hits in game two, winning 11-3.
The Garnet (2-16 overall, 0-7 CC) raced out to an early 2-0 lead in the first game, scoring two runs in the first frame. Leadoff hitter Sammy Faeder '07 reached on catcher's interference and moved up on a wild pitch by Tischler. After junior Travis Allen pushed Faeder to third with a sacrifice bunt, freshman outfielder Jimmy Gill punched a base hit to left to make it 1-0 Swarthmore. Sophomore Grant Yoshitsu followed with a single of his own and Gill came around to score when the Diplomats defense could not handle a ground ball by Swarthmore sophomore Conor Casey.
Tischler settled down, allowing only two hits (both by Faeder) the rest of the way. Justin Chen '08 (0-5) took the loss for Swarthmore, pitching four innings, striking out three while Gill fanned one batter in two innings of relief.
Faeder finished the first game 2-for-3 with a run scored while Casey and Archibald added hits for Swarthmore.
The Diplomat bats were swinging early in the second game as the home team put up three runs in the first two innings. Swarthmore fired back with three runs of their own in the top of the third to tie it 3-3. Junior catcher Andy Bender singled down the left field line and freshman Thomas Nakamura reached after getting hit by a pitch. Archibald laid down a bunt and everyone was safe, loading the bags with no outs. Bender scored on the next play, an error by F&M's shortstop off a batted ball from Faeder. Junior Scott Dalane grounded into a force out, driving in Nakamura to make it 3-2 F&M. Allen lofted a sacrifice fly to centerfield, deep enough for Archibald to score with the third Swarthmore run.
F&M responded with four runs of their own and added four more in the seventh as starting pitcher Jeffrey Rowand (3-0) went eight innings, allowing just the three runs while striking out three Garnet batters. Gordon Pelligrini led the Diplomats offense with a 5-for-5, two-RBI game and Frank Hurd added two hits, two runs and three RBIs.
Both Bender and Archibald went 2-for-4 while Casey and Yoshitsu picked up hits. Freshman Zach Sinemus (0-3) suffered the loss for Swarthmore, striking out two batters in three innings of work.
Swarthmore will travel north to Muhlenberg College on Tuesday, April 10 for a 3:30 p.m. Centennial Conference game and then return to Clothier Fields on Friday, April 13 to complete the home-and-home with a 3:30 p.m. tilt