HAVERFORD, Pa. – Junior George Hatamiya scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Haverford College baseball team an 11-10 victory over the Neumann University Knights on Tuesday afternoon at Kannerstein Field.
Sophomore Thomas Vollaro started the scoring with his first career home run in the bottom of the first inning. The Fords added on in their next at-bat with a two-run double by sophomore Jared Deveau. Two batters later, senior Marley Randazzo ripped an RBI single to center to make it 4-0. Haverford added another run in the fourth frame on an RBI groundout by senior Mike Tentilucci.
The Knights put together a big inning with seven runs in the fifth. A two-run single by Kye Williams got Neumann on the board with two out. The visitors had eight hits in frame, highlighted by AJ Koscelansky's RBI triple that gave them the lead. Junior Jamie Ulrich's RBI single cut the Fords' deficit to one in the bottom half of the fifth and then the home team tied the game in the sixth on a throwing error.
The back and forth battle continued when Neumann jumped in front in the seventh inning on a passed ball. One batter later, Eric Bergman tacked on an insurance run for the Knights with an RBI knock. The Fords got one back when Deveau scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh.
Haverford put together another scoring threat in the eighth inning. Freshman Mike Schmandt led off with a single, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Deveau then hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Schmandt to score. Senior Casey Fox came off the bench to pinch-hit and hit his 14th career home run to put the Fords in front, 10-9.
Neumann rallied to tie the contest in its last at-bat when Matt Sheneman scored on a passed ball. In the bottom of the frame, Hatamiya led off with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Vollaro. Back-to-back wild pitches allowed Hatamiya to touch home and give the Fords a walk-off win.
Vollaro set a career high with three hits in the game. Ulrich tied his career high with two hits as did Deveau with three RBI in the victory. Junior John Miraglia, sophomores Anthony Rizzo, John Masella, Stephen Ridings and Hatamiya all threw scoreless innings as Haverford had 10 pitchers make appearances in the win.
The three hour and 21 minute contest featured 26 hits between both teams, five lead changes and four ties.
Head coach Dave Beccaria's squad improves to 14-18 overall while Neumann drops to 15-12-1 this season. The Fords have won nine of their last 12 games and will take on Johns Hopkins in the first round of the Centennial Conference playoffs on Thursday scheduled at 3 p.m. Haverford won last year's conference title and is looking for its third championship in four seasons.