WESTMINSTER, Md. –The Haverford College baseball team swept the McDaniel Green Terror in a Centennial Conference doubleheader at Preston Field on Saturday afternoon. The Fords took game one 6-1 and game two 14-6.
Haverford 6, McDaniel 1
The Green Terror scored the first run of the game on a fielder's choice in its half of the first inning, but the Fords would respond in the fourth. Freshman Matt Goss led off with a walk and sophomore Ben Verducci followed with a single to right center that moved Goss to third. Two batters later, freshman Spencer Sohmer singled home Goss to tie the game at one. The next hitter, freshman Mike Schmandt, ripped a two-run triple that put Haverford ahead 3-1.
That would be enough as senior Tommy Bergjans was terrific on the mound for the Fords. After allowing his first earned run of the season in the first inning, the two-time All-American would let just four base runners reach scoring position the rest of the way. The Green Terror got a runner to second with one out in the second inning, but Bergjans got two strikeouts looking to end the threat. The home team had a runner move to third with one out in the sixth inning, but the two-time Centennial Conference Pitcher of the Year thwarted the scoring chance with a strikeout and a ground out.
Bergjans scattered five hits over eight innings, walked two and struck out 13. The Centennial Conference all-time leader in strikeouts has struck out at least 10 batters in each of his last six starts and has 15 10-plus strikeout games in his career.
Verducci led the Fords with three hits including an RBI double in the fifth and RBI single in the seventh. Goss had a team-high three runs while Schmandt knocked in three. Freshman Patrick O'Shea pitched a perfect ninth in the victory.
Haverford 14, McDaniel 6
In game two, the Fords had 17 hits, hit two home runs, and stole five bases during their 14-6 victory.
Haverford jumped in front early with a four spot in its first at-bat of the contest. Senior Casey Fox lined a two-run single to center and then sophomore Yannick Villanueva brought home two more with a single to left.
McDaniel rallied to take a lead in the third inning. An error gave the Green Terror its first run before a two-run double got the home team within one. A balk tied the game at four then a Kasey Nelson RBI single put McDaniel ahead 5-4.
The Fords quickly answered in the next half inning. Goss singled home sophomore Zach Taylor and junior Nick Ott to regain the lead for the visitors. Verducci tacked on an insurance run with a RBI single while a fielder's choice gave the Fords their eighth run of the game. A throwing error put the Haverford advantage at four (9-5).
Fox hit his 13th career home run in the sixth inning which made the score 10-6. Fox's 13 home runs are tied for seventh all-time. The Fords pushed across four more runs in the seventh inning highlighted by Sohmer's first career home run.
Six different Fords had at least two hits with Fox's four hits leading the way. The senior matched his career high in hits while scoring three times and knocking in four runs. During the doubleheader, Verducci hit .600 (6-for-10), scored four runs, had four RBI and stole three bases. Goss went 3-for-9 (.333) during the Fords' sweep and scored five runs.
Nelson went 3-for-3 and had two RBI while Cameron Bahr had two hits and two RBI in the loss for McDaniel.
Sophomore Stephen Ridings did not allow a run in 3 2/3 innings to pick up the win. O'Shea threw another scoreless ninth inning.
Head coach Dave Beccaria's team improves to 7-15 this season and 3-6 in the Centennial Conference. McDaniel falls to 9-11 overall and 2-6 in conference play. The Fords will welcome Muhlenberg on Monday and Ursinus on Tuesday. The first pitch for both games is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.