SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The Haverford College baseball team (20-19) advanced in the Centennial Conference tournament in a nail-biter, taking a narrow 7-6 victory over Swarthmore (20-18-1) in the Centennial Conference First Round Contest at Clothier Field.
The Garnet sent first-year hurler Noah Potholm to the hill for the must-win game, as Haverford countered with sophomore Riley Grohowski as a pair of Northern Virginia products locked horns. Grohowski cruised through the first three innings, working around a pair of baserunners without giving up a hit. When it was all said and done, Grohowski improved to 6-4 with an eight-inning gem, striking out nine in a heroic turn on the mound as he toed the mound to begin the ninth.
The Fords loaded the bases in a bizarre top of the first inning, as Harry Genth and Jonny Flieder were both hit by a pitch before an infield single off the bat of Jack Wallis that dinged Potholm on the mound and scattered towards third base. With two down, Zach Becker stepped to the dish and delivered a bouncing grounder to shortstop that was misplayed, as the Garnet shortstop and third baseman collided, allowing both Genth and Flieder to score for the early 2-0 lead.
Becker poked a single to lead off the third inning, and took third base promptly on an error after a caught-stealing attempt trickled into the outfield. With one out, Zach Crampton then singled up the middle, plating Becker from third to extend the Haverford lead to 3-0.
Swarthmore added its first runs of the contest with one down in the fourth inning, as Emmet Reynolds looped a liner into shallow left field for the first hit of the contest for Swarthmore. With two down, Matthew Silvestre walked, and the pair both advanced into scoring position on a passed ball. Joe Radek then connected on a double, plating a pair and trimming the Haverford lead to just one at 3-2.
Haverford quickly tossed aside the Swarthmore rally, putting up three runs in the top of the fifth, as the Fords loaded the bases with no out. Daniel Rosman singled and Genth was hit by a pitch. Flieder reached on a fielding error, and with one out, Zach Landry delivered a sacrifice fly to plate Rosman. Becker drilled a liner to left, as an error was called on the Swarthmore left fielder. Flieder and Genth came in to score on the miscue for a 6-2 Haverford lead.
The Garnet tagged Grohowski for an earned run in the bottom of the inning, as Aidan Sullivan lifted a sacrifice fly to plate Ben Buchman, who doubled to lead off the frame. As the game entered its final act, Grohowski worked around a pair of runners in the bottom of the sixth, catching Nate Jbara looking to end the frame as he returned to a fired up Haverford dugout.
Andrew Rimerman delivered a scoreless inning in the top of the seventh, as Haverford stranded the bases loaded, but Grohowski silenced the Swarthmore bats in the bottom of the frame, working through some traffic himself. With runners on the corners and two down, Grohowski got the best of Silvestre in a battle to retire the side. Grohowski looked even stronger in the eighth, retiring the side in order to propel the Fords into the final frame with a strikeout of Radek and Buchman.
The Fords added an insurance run in the top of the ninth, as Wallis walked, stole second, and moved to third on a balk. Becker then launched a sacrifice fly for the seventh run of the contest, a tally that would prove crucial as the game reached the bottom of the inning.
Jbara reached on an error to begin the ninth, and Max Roffwarg was then hit by a pitch. With two runners on, Haverford went to the bullpen for Sam Cohen. The first batter that Cohen faced, Sullivan, launched a three-run homer to put Swarthmore within one at 7-6. Cohen responded with two quick outs, but Silvestre reached on a walk before Radek was hit by a pitch. Wyatt Mattison was then summoned from the bullpen, and completed the save as he struck out Jett Shue to end the contest.
Crampton and Becker each had a pair of hits, while Reynolds and Buchman were the only two Garnet players with multiple hits. Potholm tossed five innings, striking out six and allowing just one earned run. Swarthmore's number one starter, Liam Aplern, came into the contest in relief for the final two frames, striking out two but ultimately surrendering the deciding seventh run.
Haverford has now earned a 20 win season, a mark the Fords last reached in a full season in 2019. The Fords now advance to the double-elimination portion of the Centennial Conference tournament, facing off with top-seeded and national No. 1 Johns Hopkins in Baltimore on Thursday, May 4 at 3 p.m.
Third-seeded Dickinson will battle second-seeded Franklin & Marshall in the other "semifinal" matchup with all four teams advancing to Saturday's action at top seeded Johns Hopkins.
For more information on the Centennial Conference tournament, please visit the Centennial Conference Championship Central page.