SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The Swarthmore College baseball team battled wet conditions and slugged its way past New York University, 10-1, in Wednesday's home opener, scoring all 10 runs after the fourth inning. The Garnet trailed 1-0 entering the fifth, but exploded for 10-unanswered runs to close the game.
Brad Johnston scored the first of 10-straight runs with his fourth homer of the season. Leor Kedar, Jackson Clemens and Wilson Henze all contributed a pair of RBI to add to the scoring. Clemens reached base in all four plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with two walks and a pair of runs scored.
Aidan Tinker was excellent on the bump, lasting seven strong innings with one earned run and three hits allowed. The sophomore struck out four batters to secure his second win of the season.Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Tinker cruised his way through the first inning after Nathaniel Kittredge orchestrated a 6-4-3 double play to erase a leadoff walk. The Garnet put two runners on with one out in the second, but stranded the go-ahead run at second base.Â
- The Violets scratched across a run with an RBI groundout in the second inning. Swarthmore put two more runners on in the bottom frame, but ended the inning with a pop-out double play at home.Â
- Tinker grew stronger as the game went on, striking out a pair to end the fourth and then tossing a 1-2-3 fifth inning. The Garnet offense eventually rewarded its pitcher, hanging a crooked six runs in the fifth. Johnston hammered the first pitch of the inning for a solo homer, while Kittredge brought home the go-ahead score on a sacrifice fly. Clemens then provided some breathing room with a two-run double, while Henze and Kedar both tacked on another run with a single and a double, respectively.Â
- Noah Potholm made a rare relief appearance, tossing a shutdown frame in the sixth. The Garnet ace ran into trouble, but walked the tightrope with a bases-loaded strikeout to end the inning. The Garnet added four more runs in the bottom half. Deven Peterson doubled home a run, while Henze plated another with a groundout. Kedar then laced his second double of the game to plate a final pair of runs, making it 10-1.Â
- Gabe Elliott shut the door with an easy seventh inning. Aided by excellent defense, the senior generated three groundouts before darkness put an end to the Violets afternoon after seven innings.Â
GARNET OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Clemens: 2-for-2, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, 2B
Kedar: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 2B
Johnston: 1-for-3, HR, 2 BB
GARNET PITCHING LEADERS
Tinker (W, 2-0), 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO
Potholm: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 SO
Elliott: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO
UP NEXT
The Garnet (5-2) carry a five-game win streak into spring break, playing three against No. 16 Case Western Reserve to open its week in Lexington.
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