Baseball Walks Off a Winner Over Muhlenberg, 6-5

Matt Goss
Matt Goss

HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College baseball team notched a walk-off victory over visiting Muhlenberg, 6-5, at Kannerstein Field on Tuesday afternoon. Matt Goss delivered an RBI single, scoring pinch-runner Michael Schwarze as the Fords triumphed after Muhlenberg rallied to tie the score at 5-5 in the eighth inning. Haverford is now 14-12-1 (5-5-1 CC) with the win while Muhlenberg drops to 13-16 (3-8 CC) in defeat.

The Mules got on the scoreboard first against first-year Haverford starter Dylan Livingston. John Icaza drilled a leadoff homer to left field for a 1-0 advantage. Livingston was able to regain composure quickly, inducing an inning ending double play to keep Muhlenberg from furthering its lead.

The Fords responded in the bottom of the frame against Matthew D'Ambrosia. Ethan Lee-Tyson opened up the inning with a single through the left side of the infield. Lee-Tyson then stole second and Spencer Sohmer singled into center field to plate a run.

The Mules took a 3-1 lead with single runs in the second and third innings, scoring on a pair of sacrifice flies. The Fords inched to within 3-2 with a run in the fourth inning. After Ben Furlong walked and advanced to second on a passed ball, the junior shortstop stole third. The next hitter, Harrison Burns, sacrificed Furlong home on a squeeze play bunt.

In the fifth, Haverford mounted a two-out rally to take the lead. Lee-Tyson singled through the left side and Goss singled through the right side of the infield. The next hitter, Sohmer, singled into right field and advanced on the throw, as Lee-Tyson scored. Sam Partee then delivered an RBI single to left field, plating a pair for a 5-3 lead.

Haverford summoned Ben Verducci, the starter at first base, to the mound to begin the seventh. After a scoreless frame, Ryan Kaverick (2-3) of Muhlenberg similarly shut Haverford in the bottom of the inning.

Muhlenberg struck for a pair to tie the game in the top of the eighth. With one down, Icaza launched his second homer of the game. Verducci was able to get Chris Grillo to strike out looking, but Robbie Hopes tied the contest with a homer to right field.

The next hitter, Matt Riebesell, singled through the left side to bring up Thomas Yohe. Yohe punched a double into left-center, but Riebesell was thrown out trying to score from first base, as Goss found Will Karp with his throw from left. The first-year second baseman was able to fire into Partee as the catcher applied the tag easily to keep the game tied and end the inning.

Verducci and Kaverick each tossed scoreless frames in the bottom of the eighth and top of the ninth, respectively, before Haverford came up for the final at-bat of regulation. Kaverick induced two quick groundouts before Yannick Villanueva was summoned as a pinch hitter for Verducci.

Villanueva walked and Lee-Tyson delivered a single up the middle, advancing pinch-runner Schwarze to third base. Goss then singled to score Schwarze easily from third and hand Haverford a hard-fought 6-5 victory.

Livingston was able to limit the damage throughout the afternoon, allowing just two earned runs over his six innings of work. He struck out four batters. Verducci made the mid-game switch from first base to the mound, picking up three strikeouts and taking his first career win after being a tough-luck loser a week ago against Washington College.

Lee-Tyson raised his average to .415 with a 3-for-4 game with two runs scored. Goss and Sohmer also each had-multi hit days. Muhlenberg had six hitters with multi-hit contests while Icaza and Yohe each picked up a pair of RBI.

The Fords will next return to action on Friday against the very same Muhlenberg squad, taking the home-and-home series to Allentown, Pa. for a 3:30 p.m. first pitch.