Late-Inning Heroics Lift Garnet Baseball Past Washington 3-2 (10)
CHESTERTOWN, MD - It was Mike Waterhouse to the rescue once again for the Swarthmore College baseball team.
For the second time in a little over a week, the sophomore came through in the clutch for Swat, this time driving home the game-winning run with an RBI single in the 10th inning to lead the Garnet (12-7, 4-1) to a thrilling 3-2, 10 inning win over Washington College on Thursday afternoon in Centennial Conference baseball action.
Waterhouse finished the game with three hits to pace the Garnet offense.
With the win, the Garnet move to 4-1 in Centennial Conference play, already matching its 2009 conference win total by the first of April. With 12 wins overall, Swat is just one win shy of equaling its entire 2009 season win total.
Tied 2-2 after nine innings, junior Thomas Nakamura led off the top of the 10th with a walk for the Garnet and was moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Anthony Montalbano. Waterhouse - who finished the game 3-of-5 - then laced a single to centerfield which drove in Nakamura from second to put the Garnet up 3-2. Swarthmore threatened to extend its lead with runners on 1st and 2nd with one away, but could not add on. Washington was retired in order by Swarthmore pitcher Iggy Rodriguez (1-0) in the bottom of the 10th and the Garnet came away with the win.
The Garnet would not have even been in position to win the game in the 10th if it wasn't for some late-inning diamond gems by the defense.
In the seventh inning, Washington had two on with one out when junior Neil Mejia entered the game from the bullpen. The first batter Mejia faced, WC's Chris Keiper, hit a liner to centerfield that was caught by junior Ben Schneiderman on a diving catch. Schneiderman then popped up, threw to second base to double up the WC runner to keep the game tied 2-2.
Then in the eighth inning, the Shoremen got the first two on in the eighth to place runners on first and second. Washington's Matt Boucher hit a hard liner to third base that was snagged on a leaping grab by sophomore third baseman Spencer Ross. Ross threw to second to complete another outstanding double play for the Garnet. Washington had first and second with two outs, but Mejia got a fly out to get out of the inning unscathed.
Waterhouse led the way at the plate for Swat, finishing 3-of-5 with two RBIs. Nakamura finished the game with two hits, senior Jimmy Gill blasted a double while sophomore Miles Santo also knocked home a run. Gill's hit extended his hitting streak to 16 games.
Rodriguez got the win for the Garnet coming out of the pen, not allowing a hit over two innings of work. Starter junior Kyle Crawford pitched well, lasting 6.1 inning with two earned runs and five strikeouts.
The Garnet and Shoreman are back at it on Friday, as Washington will travel to the College for a 3:00 p.m. clash.