GETTYSBURG, Pa. - Facing elimination for the second time on Saturday, the Haverford College baseball once again pulled out a victory to advance to Sunday's championship round. The Fords defeated third seed Muhlenberg College, 8-6, at Kirchoff Field in Gettysburg, Pa. to avenge a loss to the Mules earlier in the tournament.
Haverford (20-18) faced a 4-1 deficit heading into the bottom of the fourth inning before the Fords' offense changed the complexion of the game. The second-seeded Fords plated two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to take a one-run lead into the sixth frame.
William Bannard slapped a key two-out, two-RBI single down the left field line to score Casey Fox and Nick Ott in the fourth. Zach Taylor and Justin Coulter both knocked in runs in the fifth and put Haverford on top 5-4.
Muhlenberg (17-20-1) tied the game up with a run in the top of the eighth, but the Fords stole the momentum right back in the bottom portion of the inning.
After Fox drew a walk, two throwing errors by the Mules' pitcher allowed two runs to score for Haverford. Later in the inning Thomas Vollaro hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Bannard from third and increased the Fords' lead to 8-5 heading into the final inning.
The Mules loaded the bases in the top of the ninth, but Patrick Falkoff got out of the jam by only allowing one run and preserving Haverford's 8-6 win and sending the second seed to the championship round. Falkoff picked up his conference-leading sixth save of the season with his performance.
Fords' starting pitcher John Miraglia fanned four batters in four innings of work and Clay Bloszies and George Hatamiya each surrendered just one run in four combined innings of relief work. Hatamiya (1-0) earned the win and picked up his first victory of the season.
Bannard led the Fords at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Zach Taylor finished with two hits with a run scored and an RBI.
Haverford will face top seed Gettysburg College on Sunday, May 4 at noon at Kirchoff Field. A win by the Fords would force a winner-take-all Game 7. For full coverage of the Centennial Tournament click here.