HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College baseball team (13-11, 3-4 CC) was upended by visiting Ursinus (10-15, 3-4 CC) with a final score of 12-6 at Kannerstein Field on Wednesday as Centennial Conference action continued for both teams. The contest began firmly as a battle between starting pitchers before the two teams combined for 15 runs in the final three innings.

Haverford sent Alex Jenkinson to the mound for the start, and the first-year dazzled through 6.1 innings, surrendering just four hits and two unearned runs while striking out four. He was largely matched by another rookie, Nick Crocona, as Crocona helped the Bears with six innings of six-hit ball, allowing one earned run and tallying two strikeouts in his stint on the hill. 

With runs hard to come by in the early stages, Ursinus capitalized first in the third inning. Barritt Ross was hit by a pitch with one out and advanced to second on a passed ball. Following a bunt single by Brandon Sullivan, putting runners on the corners, Andrew Ritcher executed a squeeze bunt  himself that brought Ross home for a 1-0 Bears lead.

Crocona managed to work out of traffic in the following two frames before the Fords rallied to tie the score in the fifth. Kyle Beach laced a single to left field followed by a Kendrick Curry II single into the right-center field gap. Luke Treese delivered a productive groundout, advancing both runners into scoring position before Matt Dahl was denied a hit by a stellar snag from Jakob Cantor. Although Cantor managed to get Dahl out at first, Beach scored to level the contest at 1-1.

Both teams had runners on base in the sixth, with the starting pitchers escaping trouble. In the seventh, Will Kelley reached first on an error and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jordan Williams. George Nestor then poked a single that brought Kelley home, giving Ursinus the late lead. Aidan O'Sullivan was summoned from the bullpen and swiftly secured two outs to send the contest into the bottom of the seventh.

Haverford seized the opportunity against new pitcher Ben Couture. Treese notched a leadoff single, and Dahl grounded out, advancing Treese to second. Treese was caught stealing at third, but Haverford continued to mount its challenge as Mauro Decillis walked and promptly stole second. Daniel Rosman punched a single through the left side of the infield before Conor Bogansky entered the game from the Ursinus pen. Rosman stole second just before Genth singled to left field, bringing DeCillis home. The Bears limited the damage as Rosman was thrown out attempting to score from second.

Andrew Richter homered to lead off the eighth, kickstarting a four-run rally for the visitors. With two on, Pete Balos delivered an RBI single against new pitcher Adam Naegelen, and with two down, Nestor reached on a bunt single that brought a run home before Ross notched a sacrifice fly, extending Ursinus' lead to 6-2.

Haverford swiftly reclaimed one run, with Chuck Norton walking to lead off the eighth before Beach added a one-out single. Curry then singled to score Norton before Mike Scheller was called from the bullpen to secure the next two outs of the inning. A six-run ninth inning helped Ursinus gain some breathing room, as Balos, Nestor, Ross, and Sullivan each knocked in a run during the stretch.

A highlight for the Fords came in the bottom of the ninth as Rosman singled and Genth was hit by a pitch, setting the stage for pinch-hitter Sam Schaeffer who launched a towering three-run homer to left field to score Genth and Rosman.

Rosman led the lineup with three hits, while Norton, Beach, and Curry each contributed two. Rosman, Genth, Norton, and DeCillis were each credited with a steal. For the Bears, Sullivan, Balos, Kelley, and Nestor each had multi-hit games.

Haverford returns to Centennial Conference play on Friday, April 12, hosting Washington College at Kannerstein Field. The game is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. as the Fords and Shoremen conclude a home-and-home series.