COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. - The Haverford College baseball team (11-9, 1-2 CC) secured its inaugural Centennial Conference victory on Friday, clinching a tidy 6-2 triumph over Ursinus (9-12, 2-1 CC) at Thomas Field. The game concluded in just 2 hours and 13 minutes.
Haverford junior Riley Grohowski twirled a gem, pitching seven innings and conceding only five hits while allowing two earned runs and striking out five. Grohowski maintained a flawless performance in the early goings, not allowing a baserunner until the fourth, and held off the first hit until the fifth frame.
The Fords wasted no time in providing ample support for their starter, securing early runs against David Morgan of Ursinus. Daniel Rosman and Harry Genth each earned walks, setting the stage for Chuck Norton's RBI single before recording an out. Following a double play grounder that propelled Genth to third, he swiftly crossed home plate on a passed ball.
After Grohowski and Morgan exchanged scoreless frames in the second, third, and fourth, Haverford capitalized on some offensive opportunities in the fifth. Rosman kickstarted the inning with a single, prompting Morgan's exit and Dan Bass's entrance. Genth drew a walk and advanced to second on a throwing error, paving the way for Jack Wallis to deliver a timely single down the left field line, scoring two runs and stretching Haverford's lead to 4-0.
Ursinus began a comeback effort in the fifth, loading the bases with one out after Jude Gilhool's single. Despite the Fords cutting down a runner at home for the second out, Kyle Rosenfeld's two-RBI single narrowed the visitors lead to 4-2. Barritt Ross walked, but Grohowski managed to navigate out of the inning without further damage, retiring Will Kelley for the third out.
Haverford further solidified its lead with two additional runs in the seventh, with Rosman and Genth once again setting the table. Rosman's walk and Genth's single set the stage for Norton's RBI single up the middle. Wallis contributed an RBI groundout later in the inning, extending Haverford's lead to 6-2.
Drew Doyle excelled in relief of Grohowski, retiring six consecutive batters in the eighth and ninth innings with two strikeouts. Norton had a game-best three hits, while Matt Dahl contributed two hits from the eighth spot. Peter Balos was the sole Ursinus player with a multi-hit performance on Friday.
Haverford will now resume action on Saturday, April 6 with a doubleheader against Dickinson at home, continuing Centennial Conference play. The first pitch of game one against the Red Devils is scheduled for noon at Kannerstein Field.