Garnet Baseball Sweep the Weekend with Dominating Wins Over UMPI
SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The Swarthmore College baseball team (7-6) completed a four game sweep of weekend play with 12-0 and 13-1 wins over the University of Maine Presque Isle Owls (0-7) to get back above .500 on a Sunday made for baseball at Clothier Field.
Combining for 25 runs and 22 hits in the two games, the Garnet offense was too much for the UMPI Owls. Junior Tom Nakamura led Swarthmore going five-for-seven at the plate with three RBIs and four runs.
GAME 1
Nakamura went five-for-seven with three RBIs and four runs in the two games.
Other than one run in the second inning off of a Nakamura RBI single, game one was quiet for both teams before sophomore Mike Waterhouse stepped up to the plate with one out in the fifth.
Waterhouse's single up the middle would be the start of a 10 run seven hit inning. Senior Wiley Archibald and sophomores Anthony Montalbano and Michael Cameron hit back-to-back-to-back singles to plate Waterhouse and Archibald.
Then with two men and still only one out sophomore Spencer Ross would reach second on an error through the legs of the third basemen scoring Montalbano and moving Cameron into scoring position.
Swarthmore would continue to light up the Owls' pitchers as Nakamura would hit a two-RBI single, senior Jimmy Gill would knock in a run on an RBI single and junior Ben Schneiderman would hit two runs in on a double to right center.
The Garnet would bat around in the inning and the final run of the inning would score with a wild pitch, plating Waterhouse again.
Swarthmore would finish game one with 13 hits and 10 runs batted in.
Junior Andy Allen would pick up his first win of the season on the mound, throwing six innings with three strikeouts and giving up only five hits.
GAME 2
Montalbano went two-for-two with a pair of doubles and three RBIs in game two.
The Owls would strike first in the second contest sparked by a single and two stolen bases by Tyler Delaney. Delaney would cross the plate after an RBI single off the bat of DJ Charette. The run would be UMPI's first and only run of the day.
Swarthmore would quickly tie up the game in the bottom half of the first inning with an RBI double from Montalbano and took the lead in the second with an RBI line drive up the middle from freshman Rory McTear.
The star of the game would be Swarthmore starting pitcher freshman Ramsey Walker. Walker would completely shut down the Owls' hitters giving up only three hits and one earned run through five innings. In the fifth, Walker would strike out the side and finish with five strikeouts.
Another big inning for the Garnet in the fourth would put any chance for a victory out of reach for UMPI. A lead-off double down the third base line from Nakamura would trigger the Swarthmore rally. A string of hits, hit batters, walks and an error would lead to a big nine run and seven hit inning.
Montalbano would double for the second time in the game to knock in two runs and just two batters later Ross would hit an RBI double of his own.
The Owls would make a pitching change and the next Garnet batter, Jimmy Gill, would welcome him to the game with a two-RBI blast to right field for his third RBI in the two games.
Swarthmore would bat around again with Nakamura singling to right this time around. He would later score after an RBI single by Archibald.
McTear would hit in a run on a fielder's choice and Waterhouse would hit a sacrifice fly for another RBI.
Swarthmore tacked on a final run in the sixth inning to push the lead to 12 for the second straight game.
The Garnet baseball team opens up Centennial Conference action on Tuesday March 23 when Muhlenberg visits Clothier Field. The first pitch is set to fly at 3:30 PM.