CHESTERTOWN, Md. – The Haverford College baseball team was edged, 2-1, by the home standing Washington College Shoremen on Wednesday at Athey Baseball Park. Haverford falls to 12-10-1 (3-3-1 CC) while Washington College is now 11-16 overall (2-5 CC).
The Fords received a standout pitching performance from senior Ben Verducci (0-1), who was making just his second career appearance on the mound. Verducci totaled 8.1 innings pitched, allowing just six hits and one earned run while striking out four in a midweek gem. Offensively, Harrison Burns had a multi-hit contest including a double to pace the Fords.
The Fords had a pair of early scoring chances against Washington starter P.J. Mikulus after Harrison Burns singled with two down in the inning. After a failed pickoff attempt, Burns advanced to third on an error. Nick Perez popped up to end the threat.
Haverford put two runners on in the fifth as Ben Furlong singled to left center and Perez followed with a one out single through the left side of the infield. With two down, the pair executed a double steal, but Owen Plambeck grounded out to shortstop as Mikulus was able to again strand a runner at third base.
The Fords pushed the first run of the game across in the sixth inning. Will Karp singled with two down and promptly stole second base. After Sam Partee walked, Karp went to third on a wild pitch as the fourth ball got away from the Washington College catcher. Karp took a steal of home as part of a double steal and The Fords had an unconventional 1-0 lead.
Burns led off the seventh with a double and Thomas Vollaro walked, but the pair would be the last baserunners of the contest for Haverford. Sean Weiss (2-0) tossed a perfect eighth and ninth, picking up the victory for the Shoremen.
Verducci shut down the Shoremen at the plate all day and breezed through the seventh and eighth innings. In the bottom of the ninth, Verducci got a quick out on a groundout before Luke D'Ostillo walked. Matt Tancredi then singled and advanced to scoring position on an error, putting runners on second and third with just one down in the frame.
Haverford summoned Patrick O'Shea from the bullpen and the next hitter, Charlie Meder, doubled to left center, plating a pair allowing Washington College to seal a walk-off victory.
Joe Lozupone had a game-high three hits for the Shoremen. Meder's double was the only extra base hit of the contest for the hosts. Mikulus tallied seven innings pitched, allowing six hits and one earned run while striking out six in a no decision.
The home-and-home series between the two squads will continue on Friday afternoon as the Fords host Washington College for a 3:30 p.m. first pitch on Kannerstein Field. Haverford will then head back to Maryland on Saturday for a Saturday matinee doubleheader with No. 10 Johns Hopkins.