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Baseball Drops Road Contest at TCNJ

Harry Genth
Harry Genth

EWING TOWNSHIP, N.J. - In non-conference action at TCNJ, the Haverford College baseball team (6-10) fell by an 18-1 final to the host Lions (5-6) in a game the Fords needed to get back in the win column. Mike Rabayda started on the mound dueling with TCNJ's Jordan Gray with both starters tossing scoreless frames in the early goings. 

Rabayda struck out two batters in the first inning but had damage control to do in the second inning. The sophomore pitcher walked three batters and was left to deal with bases loaded. Working with a 1-1 count and two outs, Rabayda was able to get TCNJ's Cruciata to pop up to right field to end the inning. However, going into the third inning, Rabayda totaled four strikeouts and would finish the game with that exact total.

Rabayda lost a little bit of control on his pitches in the bottom of the third inning. What was once working was causing issues as he loaded the bases again with consecutive walks. With only one out, TCNJ was eager to capitalize on the circumstances. TCNJ's Chris Reeder flew out to center field, allowing Mike Lagravenis to score on the sacrifice. It was the only run the Lions scored in the inning. Despite the walks and the scoring run, TCNJ were still left without a hit through three innings. 

The bats struggled for the Fords as action moved to the fourth inning. With three hits registered in the game, none were of any substance, and TCNJ's Gray controlled things when men were on base. A 1-2-3 inning from the Fords in the top of the fourth gave TCNJ a chance to extend their lead. TCNJ scored their second run from a wild pitch, making the score 2-0 going into the business half of the game.

TCNJ would finally get their first hit of the game in the bottom of the fifth, thanks to a Ryan Goodall single. Justin McAllister replaced Rabayda following the hit. Rabayda's day ended, surrendering eight walks and two earned runs.

The Lions took a 3-0 lead following a wild McAllister wild pitch and an RBI double from Chris Cote. The Lions would later extend the lead with an RBI single to center field and a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded. TCNJ would go on to score eleven more runs to finish off Haverford.

Harry Genth provided a bright spot in the loss, hitting his first home run of the year for the Fords' only run of the game. He finished the game with two hits, a run scored, and a stolen base. Rounding out the rest of the hitting were Jordan Shand, Daniel Roseman, Zach Landry, Anthony Runfola, and Zach Crampton. Mitchell Pagano also stepped on the mound for Haverford, registering one strikeout and three earned runs in his turn on the mound.

Haverford will be back in action tomorrow, heading to Alvernia for a doubleheader. Game one begins at 12 p.m., with the second game to follow at approximately 3 p.m.