HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College baseball team (10-11, 1-1 CC) split a doubleheader with visiting Dickinson (13-8, 1-1 CC) to open up the conference slate on Saturday at Kannerstein Field. The Fords used an 11-run barrage in game two to down the Red Devils 11-4 after a pitcher's duel went the way of Dickinson in game one by a 3-1 final.
In game one, The Fords were largely stifled by the pitching prowess of the Red Devils, with Ethan Hamilton (3-1) twirling six innings of two-hit baseball, allowing just one earned run and walking two while striking out five. Brian Riley and Beau Dana then combined for three innings of scoreless relief for the visitors. Dana got into some trouble with wildness in the ninth, but responded to strike out the side to end the contest.
Dickinson pushed single runs across in the second, third, and fifth frames, with Haverford getting on the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh. Zach Crampton led off the seventh with a ranging double into the left-center field gap, and Jack Wallis came off the bench and reached on an infield single. A throwing error allowed Crampton to score, trimming the Dickinson lead to 3-1.
On the mound, Mike Rabayda (2-3) got the start for the Fords and ran into a bit of trouble, but scattered just five hits and two earned runs in his 4.2 innings of work with five strikeouts. Josh Fuller was stellar in relief, striking out seven in his 4.1 innings as the two combined for 12 strikeouts in nine innings. Cole Hare homered for the visitors, with Lukas Atsalis and Luke Jackson also tallying extra-base hits.
In game two, the Fords looked to be on the ropes early as Dickinson struck for three early runs against Martin Matsumura (1-2). Matt Torres cleared the bases with a double as part of that rally, but the Fords struck back with four in the bottom of the first as Harry Genth and Luke Smith singled ahead of Zach Becker reaching on an error. Zach Landry then punched an RBI single before the Fords added a run on another Dickinson error and a wild pitch to go ahead 4-3 after just one inning of play.
Harry Genth launched a moonshot home run in the second inning, and Haverford tacked on two more in the fourth with Kendrick Curry II notching an RBI single as part of that rally. Crampton unleashed a homer in the fifth to plate a pair, and Haverford took advantage of another miscue in the sixth to tack on an insurance tally.
Curry II doubled to lead off the eighth, and scored on Zach Buck's double down the left field line. Four Haverford pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts, allowing just seven hits. Matsumura righted the ship after the shaky first inning, striking out six while Luke Bessette and August Williams combined for 3 innings of one-hit relief with five strikeouts before Riley Grohowski logged the ninth.
Dickinson was making its first trip to Kannerstein Field since the 2017 season. The Fords are now 38-24 all-time against the Red Devils, including a 17-14 mark at home.
Haverford next returns to action on Tuesday, heading to Washington College for a 3:30 p.m. first pitch against the Shoremen. The home-and-home series then returns to Kannerstein Field on Friday (3:30 p.m.) as Centennial Conference play continues in earnest.