HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College baseball team had the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, but couldn't plate the tying run, and came up just short against Centennial Conference challenger Muhlenberg College, 12-10, on Tuesday afternoon.
The Fords (10-11, 3-3 CC) entered the bottom of the ninth stanza down 12-8. After a walk by Mike Tentilucci, leadoff hitter Nick Miranda scorched a fastball into left center field. Shortstop William Bannard followed by reaching on a fielding error by the pitcher and George Hatamiya walked with the bases loaded to close the Muhlenberg (11-10, 4-2) advantage to 12-9. With the bases still juiced, backup catcher Same Kane singled to left field, scoring Miranda from third and again loading the bags with only one out.
Now down just two runs, and with the tying man in scoring position, Haverford appeared to be in great shape. However, momentum quickly shifted as the Mules thwarted the furious rally by getting a strikeout and lineout to end the game.
Despite the loss, the Fords' bats were hot yet again as the team scored double-digit runs for the second time in its last four games; the squad has averaged more than nine runs in its last four games. Second baseman Zach Taylor had his best day from the plate this year, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Both Miranda and Kane each tallied two hits, while Hatamiya knocked in a pair of runs and struck out two batters in relief in the top of the ninth.
On a windy and sunny afternoon, bases-loaded walks became quite regular between the conference foes. Together the teams combined for six bases-loaded walks. Haverford drew four of those six walks, but went just 2-for-7 from the plate with the bags full.
The top of the sixth inning was the deciding frame, as Muhlenberg sent 12 batters up to the plate and registered eight runs on six hits. Haverford pitchers gave up just four runs and five hits in every other inning besides the sixth.
Casey Fox (1-2) picked up the loss after going 5.1 innings with three strikeouts. Troy Elias (1-0) received his first decision of the season despite allowing five hits and three runs.
Haverford hosts a non-conference game tomorrow, April 9, against Alvernia University. The Fords and Crusaders are set to square off at 3:30 p.m. at Kannerstein Field.