FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Haverford College baseball team completed another sweep of a doubleheader, defeating Lakeland College (3-6) first in a 16-0 rout that included a cycle by third baseman Spencer Sohmer and a pitching gem thrown by Justin Herring, and then again later in a dramatic 8-7 game ended by a walk-off single from first baseman Ben Verducci. With two more wins in the Gene Cusic Classic, the Fords have now begun the season 7-1.
In the first game, Sohmer hit a two-run homer in the third inning, tripled in the fifth, singled in the sixth, and then doubled in the seventh to headline a relentless Haverford offense. Sohmer finished the game 4-for-4 with four runs scored, five RBI, and a sacrifice fly. Sohmer stayed hot in the second game, batting 2-for-3 with an RBI, a walk, and a stolen base. The sophomore third baseman raised his season batting average to .419 and his slugging to .774.
On the mound, starting pitcher Justin Herring threw 5.1 scoreless innings and struck out 10 batters. He allowed four walks and just four hits. George Hatamiya came on in relief to strike out two over 1.2 innings. The two combined for the shutout.
Also for Haverford, Matt Goss was 3-for-3 with a double and a triple. The sophomore outfielder also drove in two, scored a run, and stole two bases. At shortstop, Ben Furlong went 3-for-4 with four RBI.
In game two, Haverford rallied from a five run deficit before Verducci's game winner in the bottom of the seventh capped the game. The Fords scored all eight of their runs in the final three frames, highlighted by five runs in the sixth inning when Verducci hit a two-run single. Also in the inning, Thomas Vollaro, Ethan Lee-Tyson, and Sam Partee drove in one run apiece. Vollaro would score the game-winning run the next inning after reaching base on an error.
Verducci finished the game 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBI.
The Fords will wrap up the Gene Cusic Classic Saturday morning with a game against Bluffton University before heading back to Pennsylvania for their home opener against Immaculata on Tuesday, March 15 at 3:30 p.m.