LAKEWOOD, N.J. - A two-run double by Matt Liscovitz in the sixth inning provided Haverford College with its first lead of the game Friday afternoon, but the Roadrunners from Ramapo College of New Jersey bounced back with runs in the seventh and eighth to steal a 6-4 win at the Mid-Atlantic Regional of the 2012 NCAA baseball championship, ending the Fords' story-book season.
Haverford (25-19) qualified for its first NCAA tournament by winning the Centennial Conference tournament, then battled back from an eight-run deficit Thursday in an elimination game at the Regional before meeting up with the Roadrunners (33-13).
Trailing 3-1 heading into the sixth the Fords wrested the lead away with three runs keyed by Liscovitz's double and an RBI-single by Mike Tentilucci.
Justin Coulter started the two-out rally with a single to short right-center field. He moved to second when Ramapo starting pitcher Matt Jenisch hit Jeremy Zoll in the next at-bat. Alex Hudak singled to load the bases and Liscovitz provided the pop with his slicing liner down the left-field line scoring Coulter and Zoll to pull even at 3-3.
Tentilucci followed with a single to first, beating the tag attempt while Hudak raced home for the go-ahead run.
The lead was short-lived, though, as Ramapo knotted things at 4-4 with a run in the seventh then added the go-ahead runs with two more in the eighth.
The Fords got a two-out single from Liscovitz in the eighth but were unable to push him further along the base paths, then went down in order in the bottom of the ninth to close out an inaugural run into the tournament for Haverford.
Kyle Waney started and threw six innings for the Fords surrendering three runs on nine hits and four walks while striking out two. Kevin Goff (4-1) came on in relief to start the seventh and ended up taking the loss after allowing three runs, two earned, in a little more than an inning of work. Mike Bozzi, in his final appearance on the mound for the Fords, come on for Goff and threw two scoreless innings.
Daniel LaRocca (5-0) relieved Jenisch in the seventh and picked up the win as his team rallied over the final innings.
Liscovitz finished with a 3-for-4 day with a pair of RBIs. Hudak collected two hits and scored twice while Tentilucci and William Bannard added an RBI apiece.