SWARTHMORE, Pa. – The Swarthmore College baseball team held off an Eastern University rally to win its home opener, 11-10 in seven innings, on Tuesday afternoon. The game was ended early due to darkness.
The Garnet jumped out to an early 5-0 lead and led by as many as eight runs (11-3). The Eagles attempted a comeback with seven runs over their last three at-bats. However,
Steven Jungers was able to shut the door and pick up his first save of the season.
Aidan Sullivan went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, one RBI, and two runs for Swarthmore.
Easton Tolson drove in three runs and finished 2-for-4 in his first career game at Clothier Field.
Matthew Silvestre reached base three times with a hit and two walks, knocked in two, and scored twice.
Nathaniel Kittredge recorded a triple, two walks, two RBI, and two runs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After
Jack Bowling started the game with a 1-2-3 inning on the mound, the Garnet offense struck for five runs in the opening frame. The first three hitters reached to load the bases before Silvestre drew a walk to put the first run on the board. Sullivan scored on a wild pitch before Kittredge walked to load them up again.
Zac Kahn was hit by a pitch to force in a third run before Tolson wrapped up the scoring in the stanza with a two-run single.
- Eastern responded with three runs in the second on four hits and one error. One of the runs was unearned. However, Swarthmore regained a five-run advantage with three in the bottom of the innng. Kittredge tripled in a pair and Tolson added another RBI with a single to left center.
- Silvestre put the Garnet ahead 9-3 with an RBI single in the third inning. Swarthmore's final two runs came across in the fourth. Kahn came home on an error and
Leor Kedar scored on a groundout.
- The Eagles began their rally with a sacrifice fly in the fifth to make it 11-4. Eastern batted around in the sixth, scoring four runs on three hits, one error, two walks, and a hit by pitch, to close the gap to three (11-8). The Eagles threatened to complete the comeback in the seventh, scoring twice on three hits and a walk. Eastern had the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position but Jungers whiffed the Eagles batter to lock down the win.
Ian Born was awarded the victory for his first collegiate win.
GARNET OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Hits: Sullivan 3
Runs: Four players 2
RBI: Tolson 3
Stolen Bases: Kedar 1
UP NEXT
The Garnet (2-2) head to Stockton University for a Friday afternoon matchup.
