SWARTHMORE, PA - The Swarthmore College baseball team kept battling as they defeated Montclair State University, 8-7, in a back-and-forth thriller on Saturday afternoon.
Paul Cooke and
Nate Jbara both had huge days at the dish. The duo came through with several clutch hits, while Cooke led the way with four RBI and one run scored as he recorded three hits and reached base four times on the afternoon. Jbara also put together a stellar offensive performance with two RBI and a home run. The junior reached base three times with two hits and a walk.
Luke Mutz and
Max Roffwarg also drove home runs for the Garnet. Mutz set the tone at the top of the lineup with four hits to go along with three runs scored.
On the mound, Swarthmore received a solid six innings from
Edward Berry. The sophomore surrendered one earned run, while striking out eight batters with an electric fastball and excellent off-speed command. However, one of the most important performances of the afternoon came from
Rohan Cherukuri, who shut the door for the Garnet with a clean ninth inning.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Garnet struck first in the opening frame. Cooke plate the first run with a bases loaded walk, while Roffwarg brought home one more on a fielder's choice groundout. Mutz then added on a run in the second inning with a double down the left field line, 3-0.
- In the third inning, Jbara continued to swing a hot bat with his second-straight game with a home run. The junior sent a blast over the left field wall to put Swarthmore ahead by four runs. The Red Hawks then answered with a run in the fourth inning, but Jbara quickly countered with an RBI single in the fifth inning, 5-1.
- Montclair State put together four runs in the sixth and seventh innings to tie the game. Cooke then came through with a two-run double to regain the lead in the seventh inning. However, the Red Hawks tied things up once more with a two-run homer in the eighth, 7-7.
- Mutz singled through the right side and stole second base to spark a two-out rally in the eighth inning.
Josh Bein and
Matthew Silvestre then worked back-to-back walks to bring Cooke up to the plate with the go-ahead run on third base. The senior beautifully executed a bases-loaded bunt single down the third base side to advance all runners and plate the go-ahead score. Cooke rolled the ball perfectly down the grass, so the third baseman didn't have a play at any base, 8-7.
GARNET OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Cooke: 3-for-4, 4 RBI, R, 2B, BB
Jbara: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, HR, BB
Mutz: 4-for-5, 3 R, RBI
GARNET PITCHING LEADERS
Berry: 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 8 SO, 7 H
Cherukuri: (SV, 1), 1.0 IP, 0 ER
UP NEXT
The Garnet (6-10) return to action versus Misericordia on Tuesday.
