HAVERFORD, Pa. - A late rally in an extra-inning, 9-7, Game 1 loss seemingly sparked the Haverford College bats, leading to an outburst of runs in the nightcap as the Fords earned a split with Bates College, taming the Bobcats in a 16-2 non-conference victory Saturday afternoon on Kannerstein Field.
The Fords (7-7) put up three runs in the bottom of the first in Game 2, keyed by a two-run home run to right-center field by Alex Hudak. Bates (8-3) starting pitcher Mike Antonellis (1-1) surrendered another run in the second then gave up three more, this time on a Matt Liscovitz three-run homer, in the third to put an early end to the right-handed pitcher's day.
A five-run sixth, which included a Casey Fox three-run blast over the right field fence, put more distance between the Fords and Bobcats, but Haverford's bats weren't done yet as four more runs came in during the eighth inning when Luke Frankiw planted one over the right-center field field fence for a three-run dinger after Chance Griffiths scored the inning's initial run on a Bobby Hubley RBI-single down the left field line.
Haverford starter Kyle Waney (3-0) needed minimal run support, though, as he spread out four singles and one double over seven innings, surrendering just one run to earn the win. Max Gerard finished off the final two innings for Waney.
Haverford's bat were kept quiet through the seven innings of Game 1 by Bobcats starter Karl Alexander. With a 7-1 lead entering the bottom of the eighth, Alexander gave up a walk and a single to the first two batters and gave way to Chris Fusco who had a rough outing, courtesy of the Haverford bats which awoke with a bang.
The Fords battled back to knot the score at 7-7 with six runs in the inning. Jake Chaplin pushed a two-RBI single through the middle for the first two runs and was followed by Fox, whose single down the right line scored Nick Miranda. Two batters later Hudak laced a double down the left field line which brought home Chaplin and Fox. Hudak scored the tying run on a squeeze play when Hubley bunted down the third base line and Hudak beat the throw to the plate.
Neither team scored in the ninth but Bates scored a pair of runs in the top of the 10th and the Fords were unable to answer, allowing the Bobcats to escape with the win.
Tom Baroni (1-0) earned the win for Bates after throwing 2.2 innings of scoreless ball. The Fords' Michael de Armas took the loss after giving up one earned, and one unearned run in the 10th.
Chaplin had, likely, the best non-home run day at the plate for the Fords, finishing with six hits, a pair of RBIs and a three runs scored.
The Fords will try to keep the bats alive in their next outing, a trip to Wesley College for a non-conference contest on Tuesday, March 20.