FORT MYERS, Fla. – George Hatamiya led the top of the 10th inning off with single then, after stealing second, came around to score the game-winning run on Mike Tentilucci's two-out single through the left side as Haverford College's baseball team remained undefeated after downing St. Joseph's College of Long Island, 4-3, in a 10-inning non-conference outing Thursday morning at Terry Park.
The Fords (7-0) remain unbeaten on the season while St. Joseph's falls to 2-5. The seven-game win streak by Haverford is a solid start for the reigning Centennial Conference champions, but still three shy of the program's 10-game unbeaten string at the beginning of the 2011 schedule.
Haverford entered the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday with a 3-0 lead and a pitcher that had mowed down the Golden Eagles through the first eight innings.
Starting Fords pitcher Kevin Goff carried a no-hitter into the bottom of the seventh having faced only one batter over the minimum. Goff walked the opening two batters in the bottom of the ninth which signaled the finish to his day as Hatamiya came on in relief.
St. Joseph's plated one run and had the bases loaded with one out when a double-play grounder took a bad hop and scooted into left field, allowing two more runs to score. Hatamiya was able to close out the inning and eventually found himself leading off the top of the 10th.
Following Hatamiya's single and stolen base, the Golden Eagles were able to induce Matt Liscovitz into a fly out to center field followed by a Nick Ott ground-out to third. Tentillucci, who finished the day 3-for-5, was able push a grounder up the middle into center, easily deep enough for Hatamiya, running on contact with two outs, to come around to score.
All it took after that was for Hatamiya (2-0) to finish the job on the mound which didn't prove to be a problem as the freshman earned the victory throwing two innings in relief of Goff while allowing one run on three hits, a walk and one strikeout.
Goff's line for the day was stellar despite the no-decision as he surrendered just one hit and two walks while fanning a pair of Golden Eagles in eight-plus innings.
Nick Miranda continued his hot start to the 2013 season maintaining his team-leading batting average (.480) with a 2-for-5 day against St. Joseph's. Alex Hudak and Ott also registered a multi-hit game for the Fords.
The Fords' spring trip continues Friday with a doubleheader against Edgewood (Wis.) College which is 2-8 entering the twinbill against Haverford.