HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Swarthmore College baseball team earned a key 8-3 road win over Haverford College on Friday afternoon. Three solo home runs in a span of four batters and a complete game from pitcher Noah Potholm were the difference as the Garnet kept pace in a competitive Centennial Conference playoff race.
Potholm allowed just three runs and struck out five, tossing his first complete game since 2024. Zac Kahn,
Brad Johnston and
Nathaniel Kittredge each went deep in the sixth inning to help the visitors split the two-game series with the Fords. Kahn had three hits on the afternoon while Johnston knocked in three.
Swarthmore currently sits in a three-way tie for fourth place in the conference with two games remaining. Just two games separate fourth through 10th place, setting up a thrilling final weekend of league play. The top five teams qualify for the conference tournament.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Swarthmore got things started with Aidan Sullivan's first-pitch double to left center. Sullivan advanced to third on
Evan Hawkes's deep fly ball to center before scoring on Johnston's single to right.
- The Garnet's bats got going again in the top of the sixth when Kahn sent a two-strike offering over the centerfield fence. Johnston followed by jumping on the next pitch and landing it beyond the fence in left. After a strikeout, Kittredge delivered another homer to make it 4-0.
- Noam AuYeung led off the top of the seventh with a double to right and advanced to third on a fielder's choice. Sullivan drew a walk to load the bases before Hawkes's sacrifice fly to right plated AuYeung and the Garnet led 5-0. Kahn then singled to center to re-load the bases. Johnston got an RBI walk to score
Wilson Henze then
Deven Peterson hit a sac fly to up the advantage to seven.
- Haverford ended its scoring drought in the bottom of the seventh on a sacrifice fly. Swarthmore added another run in the eighth. AuYeung led off with a single, stole second, and scored on an error to push the lead to 8-1. The Fords scored their final two runs on a two-out single in the bottom of the eighth.
GARNET OFFENSIVE LEADERS
Kahn: 3-for-5, HR
Johnston: 2-for-4, 3 RBI, HR, BB
AuYeung: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2B, SB
GARNET PITCHING LEADERS
Potholm: W, 9.0 IP, 3 R, 9 H, 0 BB, 5 K
UP NEXT
Swarthmore (23-13, 8-8 Centennial) travels to McDaniel College on Sunday for a crucial doubleheader to end the regular season.
