HAVERFORD, Pa. – A nine-run third inning broke the back of visiting Ursinus College in Tuesday afternoon's Centennial Conference baseball game at Kannerstein Field, but Casey Fox's two-run home run in the bottom of the first proved to be the only runs necessary for Haverford College in its 14-1 victory.
Fox hit and pitched Haverford (21-6, 6-5 CC) past the Bears (6-20, 2-9) as he earned the win on the mound after starting and throwing six innings of one-run ball, allowing only an unearned run, while registering a 3-for-6 day at the plate that included a two-run home run and four RBIs while also scoring three runs.
Ursinus loaded the bases against Fox in the top of the first but a two-out ground out to Mike Tentilucci at second base ended the threat. For his second pitching start in a row, Fox answered back in the bottom half of the opening inning with a two-run home run to give his team the lead.
Tuesday's blast by Fox sneaked inside the right field foul pole and came with one out and Marley Randazzo, who had singled through he left side to start the inning, on base.
The Bears threatened again in the second but, with runners on the corners, Fox got James Hoff to lift a fly ball to left field where Alex Hudak camped under it for the third out of the inning.
The fateful inning for Ursinus came in the third when Haverford sent 13 batters to the plate in a nine-run inning. Nick Miranda's single and steal of second base led off the frame and after that, the Fords began their roll through three Bears pitchers.
The only extra-base hit of the big inning came from Hudak who doubled home Fox whose single pushed Miranda across the plate for the opening run of the inning.
Of the nine hits in the frame, eight were singles including a pair of RBI-singles from Fox. The Fords earned a pair of walks to push the inning along and worked through a trio of Ursinus pitchers including starter A.J. Wright who took the loss after failing to register an out in the third inning.
After working out of trouble in the first, second and third innings, Fox finally surrendered a run in the fourth. A two-out error at shortstop by Zach Taylor allowed Ursinus' Jake Kohler to score from third, but Taylor immediately avenged the miscue by leaping high into the air to stab a line drive from Kevin Wilson which ended the inning, and proved to be the last threat by the visitors.
Fox, and then Clay Bloszies who pitched the final three innings, didn't allow a runner past second base over the game's final five frames. Fox (2-0) earned the win surrendering just the one unearned run off 10 Ursinus hits and one walk while striking out one. Bloszies' three innings were dominant as he gave up just one hit without a walk, struck out one and set the side down in order in the eighth and ninth innings.
Fox, Hudak, Tentilucci and Miranda each collected three hits in the Haverford victory. Randazzo also had a multi-hit game (2-for-5), and three others in the starting lineup collected one hit apiece.
Fox finished with four RBIs on the day while Hudak added three. Tentilucci and Bloszies knocked in two RBIs each with Miranda and Nick Ott also adding one RBI apiece.
Wright (0-6), the first of six Bears pitchers, took the loss for Ursinus surrendering seven runs on six Haverford hits and two walks. He also struck out two.
Haverford slips out of conference action for its next game, a Wednesday afternoon contest against visiting Eastern University at Kannerstein, before heading to Ursinus on Friday afternoon for a single Centennial match-up.