KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – The Swarthmore College baseball team picked up its first victory of the season on Saturday with a 9-6 win against Washington and Lee University at the D3 Showcase.
The Garnet got out to a hot start with five runs in the first inning and withstood a Generals rally in the ninth.
Noah Potholm pitched brilliantly on the mound for the win, conceding just one run and five hits over six innings. He struck out three and did not walk a batter.
Benjamin Buchman was the standout at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double and a grand slam.
Aidan Sullivan and
Nathaniel Kittredge notched two hits apiece and
Matthew Silvestre knocked in a pair of runs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The only damage against Potholm came in the first inning as the Generals managed a two-out RBI single for an early 1-0 lead. However, Swarthmore went off for five runs and chased the Generals starter in the bottom of the inning. The first three hitters reached to load the bases for the Garnet before Silvestre drew a walk to even the score. Buchman then crushed a grand slam to right field to give Swarthmore a 5-1 advantage.
- Both offenses struggled to get something going over the next three innings. Potholm did not allow a runner to get into scoring position during the stretch. The Garnet tacked on a run in the fifth. Sullivan led off with a triple to left center then came home on a Silvestre sacrifice fly.
- Swarthmore's final runs came in the bottom of the eighth. Buchman hit a leadoff double for his fourth hit of the day. After a wild pitch and a walk,
Zac Kahn executed a squeeze play to score a run and make it 7-1.
Brad Johnston hit a RBI single to center and
Max Roffwarg doubled in a run to push the margin to eight (9-1).
- The Generals tried to rally in the ninth, batting around and pushing across five runs on four hits, a hit by pitch, and two walks. However,
Zach Potthoff was able to get a strikeout to end the game.
GARNET OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Hits: Buchman 4
Runs: Sullivan 2
RBI: Buchman 4
Stolen Bases: Buchman 1
GARNET PITCHING LEADERS
Potholm: Win, 6.0 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 0 BB, 3 K
UP NEXT
The Garnet (1-1) wrap up their weekend in North Carolina on Sunday when they take on Piedmont University.
