SWARTHMORE, Pa.–On a snowy afternoon, the Swarthmore College baseball team (14-3) picked up a sweep against nonconference foe SUNY Canton (4-9) with 1-0 and 14-4 victories over the Kangaroos.
Brian Gibbs had his best outing of the season in game one with a complete-game shutout. The junior southpaw struck out seven and surrendered only two walks and three hits to improve to 2-1.
Swarthmore scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the first and made it stand.
Roy Walker and
Jackson Roberts loaded the bases after being hit by pitches and
David Wolfson drove in a run with a base on balls. The Kangaroos threatened to put a run on the board with runners on the corners in the top of the fourth, but Gibbs induced a groundout to third to end the inning.
The Garnet had an opportunity to expand its lead in the bottom of the frame with runners on second and third before Canton escaped the jam with a fly out. Gibbs retired the side in order in the sixth and had two punchouts in the seventh to clinch the game.
In the nightcap, Canton jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first as it capitalized on three errors by Swarthmore. Nevertheless, the home team rallied in the bottom of the inning with six runs and did not allow the 'Roos to score for the remainder of the game.
Wesley Fishburn hit a solo shot to left center and
Ryan Burnett,
Nico Aldaco and Walker loaded the bases with no outs.
Steven Matos-Torres drove in two with a double to center and Charlie Levitt completed the scoring with a two-RBI double of his own on an 0-1 count.
Swarthmore tacked on three more runs in the second for a commanding 9-4 lead. Walker plated Burnett with a base hit and
David Wolfson doubled to bring home Matos-Torres. Five more came in the third as the Garnet put the game out of SUNY Canton's reach.
Burnett, Walker each finished the second game with a pair of hits and crossed the plate three times. Freshman
Charles Groppe remained undefeated at 3-0 with two earned runs in five innings and
Max Kassan closed the game, allowing two hits and striking out three in two frames.
The Garnet continue their homestand on Tuesday, March 22 when they host local rival Widener University at 3:30 p.m.
