SALISBURY, M.D. - The Haverford College baseball team (10-8) fell to No. 4 Salisbury (17-4) in doubleheader action on Sunday at the Donnie Williams Sea Gull Baseball Stadium. The Fords dropped game one 8-4 before a late game scoring run from the Seagulls downed the Fords by a score of 11-5 in game two.
Salisbury 8, Haverford 4
Riley Grohowski was on the mound for Haverford and started the game well. The sophomore retired the first five batters for Salisbury before allowing a hit in the second inning. However, the hits the Seagulls registered came up empty. Grohowski held the hosts scoreless through the first three innings.
The Fords had their struggles in the batter's box through the first three innings. Salisbury's Jimmy Adkins had full command of his pitches and made sure the fans attending got a pitcher's duel. That would all change in the top of the fourth inning as Haverford opened the scoring.
After Zach Landry was hit by a pitch, Kyle Beach singled through the left side to move Landry to second. Pranav Rane then grounded out to first base but was able to advance both runners to scoring position. This set up Zack Becker to crack a double to right field for two RBI, giving the Fords a 2-0 lead. The scoring would end there and it was up to Salisbury to answer quickly.
The hosts wasted little time getting back into the contest. Salisbury would pull a run back after a lead-off triple put a runner in scoring position before an Anderson ground out allowed Sheeler to score. The Seagulls would then score another two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 3-2 lead.
The Fords pulled within one in the top of the sixth after Becker drove in another run with an RBI single. Landry, who singled earlier in the inning, would be the one to score. Then, in the seventh inning, Haverford regained the lead after a sacrifice bunt from Landry allowed Jonny Flieder to score. Flieder, Jack Wallis, and Landry all recorded hits in the inning.
With the Fords clinging to a small lead, Grohowski continued to deal on the mound. However, things would start to go south for the righty. A double and sacrifice fly from the Seagulls scored two runs to give the hosts the lead before Sheeler stepped up and hit a two-run home run to right field. Grohowski's night would end there after 6.2 innings and two strikeouts.
Salisbury controlled the rest of the contest, tacking on one more run to go into game two with a win already in their possession.
Salisbury 11, Haverford 5
The scoreline certainly doesn't tell the entire story because game two was close up until the final innings. Josh Fuller started on the mound this time for the Fords and was dealing early. The Fords again held Salisbury scoreless through the first three innings and they had the right-handed twirler to thank. Fuller ended the game by pitching six innings and striking out three.
The Seagulls got on the board first in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run to left field but Haverford responded quickly in the very next frame. Haverford would load the bases with Landry, Becker, and Kendrick Curry II. Then, Rane singled through the right side to bring home two runs and take the lead.
Salisbury answered right back in the sixth inning with two runs to snatch the lead back but again the Fords responded with a run in the following inning. Becker led off the inning with a triple and Rane was able to get him home with a sacrifice fly for his third RBI of the game.
The score sat at three a piece with Salisbury up to bat in the bottom of the seventh. A two-run home run from the Seagulls put the hosts ahead by two runs as Haverford had to respond once again in the next inning.
The Fords would not go away. In the eighth, Flieder singled and eventually made his way to third after two quick outs. Landry continued to show his power as he tripled to right field to score Flieder. Becker followed it up with an RBI single to tie the game at five, putting pressure on the No. 4 team in the nation.
The Seagulls would flex their muscles in the eighth, responding with six runs in the bottom of the eighth to bring an end to the Fords' upset bid.
The Fords return to action on Tuesday, back at home to welcome MIT to Kannerstein Field. The first pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m. before the Fords return to road action with a non-conference contest at Eastern on Wednesday, March 29.