SWARTHMORE, Pa. – The Swarthmore College baseball team held off a rally by Muhlenberg College and defeated the Mules, 11-6, in Centennial Conference action on Tuesday.
The Garnet got out to a 7-1 lead through three innings of play. However, Muhlenberg scored twice in the sixth and three times in the seventh to close the gap to one (7-6). Swarthmore produced a much-needed four runs in the eighth to up the margin to five (11-6). The Mules put the first two runners on in the ninth but the Garnet were able to finish off the win without allowing a run.
Max Roffwarg went 3-for-4 at the dish with a home run, two RBI, two runs, and a stolen base.
Aidan Sullivan tallied two hits, two RBI, two runs, and a stolen base. One of Sullivan's hits was a double.
Matthew Silvestre recorded a double and knocked in a pair of runs.
Liam Alpern tossed five innings of one-run ball and allowed just two hits to pick up his second win of the year.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Mules got to Alpern in the first inning, drawing a pair of walks before smacking an RBI single to center for a 1-0 lead. Another walk loaded the bases but Alpern got out of the jam without further damage. The senior settled in and allowed just three baserunners over his final four frames of work. Alpern received some help from his defense in the second when Sullivan caught a fly ball in right then threw out the runner trying to score from third for an inning-ending double play.
- Trailing 1-0, the Swarthmore offense quickly took the lead in the first.
Leor Kedar led off with a walk then a Roffwarg single put runners on the corners.
Benjamin Buchman walked to load the bases for Silvestre, who sent a two-run double into the gap in right center. Buchman then scored on a groundout and the Garnet had a 3-1 advantage.
- In the second, Kedar drew another free pass with two outs. Roffwarg came up and blasted his second homer of the season to up the Swarthmore lead to four (5-1). Sullivan followed with a double and Buchman singled him in to make it 6-1.
Zac Kahn worked a lead-off walk in the third, stole second, then came home on
Brad Johnston's double to give the Garnet a 7-1 edge.
- Muhlenberg began to rally in the sixth. The visitors put two runners on via a hit by pitch and a double before scoring both on a single to center. In the seventh, the Mules put the first three hitters aboard. Muhlenberg registered an RBI single then two more runs came in on a wild pitch and the Mules were suddenly within one (7-6).
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Jeremy Jensen took the mound in the eighth and got a much-needed 1-2-3 inning for Swarthmore. After producing just three baserunners in the previous four frames, the Garnet offense woke up for four runs in the bottom of the inning. Swarthmore loaded the bases and
Max Beadling came home on a passed ball. With two outs, Sullivan singled through the right side to plate a pair and he later scored on an error to give the Garnet an 11-6 lead.
- Muhlenberg tried to continue its comeback attempt in the ninth, taking two walks to begin the stanza. However,
Easton Tolson came in and recorded three straight outs to wrap up the Swarthmore victory.
GARNET OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Hits: Roffwarg 3
Runs: Kedar 3
RBI: Roffwarg, Sullivan, Silvestre 2
Stolen Bases: Four players 1
GARNET PITCHING LEADERS
Alpern: Win, 5.0 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 4 BB, 5 K
Jensen: 1.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K
Tolson: 1.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K
UP NEXT
The Garnet (19-13, 10-1 Centennial) head to Muhlenberg on Friday to finish the season series.
