FORT MYERS, Fla. - Grabbing its second doubleheader sweep of Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic play on Friday, the Haverford College baseball team (5-4) recorded a pair of wins over Hiram College (1-5), winning both ends of the twinbill by final scores of 8-2 and 7-3. The Fords benefitted from outstanding starting pitching, as Mike Rabayda and August Williams each twirled gems to lift the Fords.
Sending Rabayda to the mound for game one, Haverford supported its starter with early runs, as the top of the lineup did some damage from the first pitch. Luke Smith and Harry Genth notched hits ahead of a wild pitch to score a run and a single from Anthony Runfola, who continues a strong start to his rookie campaign. When it was all said and done in the bottom of the first frame, the Fords had some run support for their Opening Day starter.
Rabayda was more than up to the task of preserving that lead, tossing scoreless frames in the first two innings. Hiram got a run back in the third, but the Fords countered with two runs in their side of the third, with Oliver Bergeron and Jack Wallis notching RBI singles. It was then Smith who broke the game wide open with his triple into the left-center field gap in the fifth, scoring Runfola and Wallis for an 8-1 Haverford advantage.
Rabayda (1-1) struck out 12 batters, allowing just four hits in his six innings of work. The 12 strikeouts in just six innings matches the most for a Haverford player since Tommy Bergjans sent down 17 in 2015. Patrick Coleman then logged a scoreless seventh inning, striking out two to finish things out.
In game two, the Fords looked to bring the same intensity and togetherness that helped deliver the game one win. Unfortunately, this time it was Hiram who would log the first-inning rally. Williams (1-0) was tagged for three runs in the first frame, but the Fords picked up their captain with a big fourth inning. Zach Crampton delivered Haverford's first home run of the 2022 campaign to lead off the frame. The Fords added a run on an error in the inning.
The offensive floodgates opened against the Hiram bullpen, with Landry and Beach reaching ahead of Crampton's RBI double down the left field line. Pranav Rane plated a run with an infield single, scoring a pair, and Becker then connected on Haverford's fifth hit of the inning. The Fords suddenly found themselves ahead 6-3. An insurance run came in the sixth as Hiram uncorked a wild pitch that scored Rane after the Fords loaded the bases without the benefit of a hit.
Williams hurled five innings in total, allowing just three hits and two walks against six strikeouts. Staff workhorse Kevin Casey was again called upon in relief of Williams, allowing just one hit and striking out four in his two innings of shutout relief.
Becker notched three hits, continuing his strong start to the season, while Crampton paced the squad with 3 RBI in the afternoon game.
The Fords now return to action on Saturday, wrapping up the Spring Break Trip with a 9 a.m. first pitch against Muskingum in Fort Myers. Live stats will be available via the Muskingum Sports Information department.