Streak Hits Eight Games As Garnet Baseball Sweeps McDaniel
SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The Swarthmore College baseball team's best start in recent memory just keeps getting better.
Junior Neil Mejia (3-1) and freshman Dylan Jensen (2-1) each provided quality starts from the mound and the Garnet offense pounded out 30 hits and 27 runs on the day, as Swat swept McDaniel 16-5 and 11-6 on Saturday afternoon from Clothier Field.
Swarthmore (11-6) has now won eight consecutive games - the program's longest winning streak since a 10-game streak in 1985. The Garnet is also 3-0 in Centennial Conference play for the first time in program history.
Jensen went 8.2 innings in the second game to pick up his second career win.
A huge day at the plate for the Garnet was led by senior Jimmy Gill, who finished the with twinbill with four hits and four RBIs. Sophomore Miles Santo finished 4-of-5 from the plate while slugging .838. on the day, while junior Thomas Nakmura also notched four hits and three runs batted in. Senior Wily Archibald, sophomore Mike Cameron, sophomore Anthony Montalbano and sophomore Mike Waterhouse all finished with three hits on the day.
Game 1
Strong pitching from Mejia and two big innings at the plate were more than enough for the Garnet to power past the Green Terror 16-5 in the first game.
Ahead 2-0 heading into the third inning, the Swarthmore offense exploded for eight hits and 10 runs over the next two innings to ensure its winning streak would stay alive.
In the third, McDaniel pitcher Danny Snight (1-3) loaded the bases with no one out thanks to two walks and a hit batter. Then with the bases juiced, Gill brought home the first run of the big inning with RBI single to left field, making it a 3-0 Swat lead. On the next play, an error from McDaniel shortstop Ricky LaSota - one of his three on the day - brought home two more runs to make it a 5-0 Swat lead. Then for extra measure, Waterhouse knocked home the final runs of the inning with single to centerfield, bringing the lead to 7-0 after three innings.
The fourth inning proved to be another five-run inning for the explosive Garnet offense , as Cameron, Ross, Nakamura and Archibald all singled, while Waterhouse and Montalbano clubbed doubles, putting the game out of reach at 12-1.
Mejia picked up the win on the mound, striking out two over 5.2 innings of work while scattering 11 hits. Freshman Sean Mangus closed out the game in 1.1 innings of work.
Game 2
New game, same result.
The Garnet again proved to be too much at the plate and on the mound for the Green Terror, earning an 11-6 win to extend its winning streak to eight games.
Jensen was solid on the mound for the Garnet, nearly going to distance with an 8.2 inning performance. The talented freshman righty struck out four batters while allowing seven hits and six earned runs - four of which came in the ninth inning with two outs.
Just like in the first game, it was one big inning that proved to be the difference.
With Swat leading 2-1 heading into the fifth, the Garnet offense exploded, scoring six runs on five hits to take control of the contest. Cameron drove in two runs with a double to left field, while Gill and Nakamura once again added RBI singles.
Down 11-2 heading into the final inning, McDaniel made a late charge by scoring four runs in the ninth. But sophomore Iggy Rodriguez came out of the bullpen to pick up his second save of the season, as Swat prevailed 11-6.
It's a quick turnaround for the Garnet, who travel to Muhlenberg for another Centennial Conference battle beginning at noon tomorrow.