HAVERFORD, Pa. - One of the beautiful things about Division III baseball is the true uncertainty that exists on each April day as teams move hastily towards the conclusion of conference play, in what amounts to an all-out sprint to the first weekend in May and the conference tournament. Much like the spring weather, so much of what can happen on the diamond in those conference games is unpredictable and, in some cases, downright incredible.
The Haverford College baseball team (12-15, 2-5 CC) undoubtedly provided one of the more incredible offensive displays you can imagine on Tuesday, as the Fords set new program single-game records for runs scored (33) and hits (30) in a 33-8 victory over Washington College (11-17, 1-6 CC) at Kannerstein Field.
Haverford's 30 hits were also a new Centennial Conference record and the 33 runs scored represented the third-most in CC history, and most in 20 years. The offensive outburst featured a 19-run seventh inning, as Haverford sent 22 batters to the plate in the frame that can only be considered an outright historic one. When all was said and done in the frame, there were two grand slams and 10 total hits recorded.
In total, 12 different Haverford players recorded a hit in the contest, with Jack Wallis (5) matching the program record to pace the Fords. Zach Becker (4), Jonny Flieder (4), Kyle Beach (3), Pranav Rane (3), Harry Genth (2), Zach Landry (3) and Oliver Bergeron (2) all had multi-hit contests in the matinee. Haverford broke a program record with an eye-popping 33 RBI, including a whopping seven each from lineup stalwarts Landry and Flieder. In total, 11 different players recorded an RBI while 14 scored a run, including a program-record tying five runs scored from Genth. Becker finished just a double shy of the cycle.
The historic contest actually started inauspiciously for the Fords, with Washington College jetting out to an early 3-0 lead against Sam Cohen as Haverford looked to be in a spot of trouble against a Shoremen lineup that was taking advantage of its opportunities in the first two innings and keeping the line moving with aplomb.
Haverford flipped the contest on its side in the second, with a seven-run frame to break things open. The damage featured five consecutive batters reaching as the Fords were content to play a station-to-station game to jet out to the big lead. In total, Haverford rapped six hits in the inning, and batted around with Becker, Rane, Norton, Genth, Flieder, and Wallis each recording RBI in the frame as the Fords were up 7-3 within the blink of an eye.
A fourth inning rally against reliever Xan Wojie plated an additional three runs as Genth doubled down the left field line, and promptly scored on a Flieder double. Wallis singled into right field, and Beach kept things flowing with a single into center before Landry knocked home another with his double into right field. Two runs came in the fifth and sixth, as both RBI came on balls that did not leave the infield. Beach tallied a sacrifice bunt in the fifth and Flieder brought in Genth with an infield single in the sixth.
Beach began the seventh inning with a single, starting a string of eight consecutive batters to reach safely. The culmination of that rally was a grand slam from Flieder, who knocked one well out of Kannerstein Field for a 22-7 lead. With one out, Beach was hit by a pitch, and Landry blasted a two-run homer. Becker tripled, and Rane tallied an RBI with a groundout for the second out of the frame.
Jordan Shand walked as a pinch hitter, beginning another stretch of eight consecutive batters reaching safely. Landry homered again in that stretch, this time unleashing a grand slam, and Becker followed with a solo blast.
Oliver Bergeron added a two-run homer in the eighth to culminate the offensive masterclass from Haverford.
The Haverford pitching performance should not be lost in the shuffle of this contest, as Sam Cohen twirled five solid innings, allowing just three earned runs and striking out five to pick up his fourth win of the season. Ethan Goldstein, Aidan O'Sullivan, and Colin Lewandowski all saw time on the hill in relief, scattering three hits and two earned runs with four strikeouts.
Washington College was led by Logan Yi, who tallied three hits, including a fifth-inning homer.
Haverford will now wrap up the home-and-home series with the Shoremen on Friday in Chestertown, Md. as the two teams do battle again at 3:30 p.m. at Athey Park.