HAVERFORD, Pa. - Haverford College got on the scoreboard first but visiting Swarthmore College leaped ahead in the next half-inning then used a six-run third inning to distance itself from the Fords in a 12-4 Garnet victory that was the Centennial Conference opener for both teams.

The Fords (7-11, 0-1 CC) chalked up the first run in the bottom of the opening frame when Justin Coulter banged out the first of two doubles on the day, lacing a liner down the left field line that scored Jake Chaplin to give Haverford a quick 1-0 lead over the Garnet (15-4, 1-0).

Swarthmore wrested the lead away in the top of the second with a two-run home run from Mike Waterhouse then pushed six more runs across the plate -- four were unearned -- in the third to take a commanding 8-1 lead.

Haverford scored one run in the bottom of the third, fourth and fifth innings, but Swarthmore added runs in the fourth and fifth to maintain its advantage over the home team.

Coulter finished with a pair of doubles and a single while Casey Fox also registered a multi-hit day with an RBI-single in the third and a double in the fifth. Nick Miranda added an RBI with a triple in the fourth, and Alex Hudak pushed a run across the plate on a fifth-inning ground out.

Jonny Williams (1-4) started for the the Fords and took the loss, surrendering four earned and four unearned runs in three innings of work. Swarthmore's Ignacio Rodriquez (5-1) earned the win for Swarthmore after allowing four runs off eight hits and six walks in six innings on the mound. Zach Weiner and Sean Mangus closed out the final three innings for the Garnet without surrendering a hit.

Haverford travels to Camden, N.J., Wednesday afternoon for its next game, a non-conference outing at Campbell's Field against Rutgers-Camden.