April 14, 2007
Haverford Takes Two From Washington College;
Rickert & Einbinder Star in Saturday Sweep
HAVERFORD, PA - Freshman infielder Jeff Rickert
broke a 9-9 tie in the bottom of the 11th inning with a line drive
single up the middle, scoring freshman Gabe Stutman from second
base, to give host Haverford a dramatic 10-9 come from behind victory
over Washington College in game two of a Centennial Conference doubleheader
Saturday afternoon. Senior Ben Einbinder drove two solo home runs
well over the left field fence in the opening game of the day while
senior starting pitcher Travis Zier tossed five strong innings on
the hill to pace Haverford to a 5-1 win in game one. The Fords improve
to 14-9 overall and 5-5 in conference play, while the Shoremen slip
to 9-15 and 3-9 in the Centennial with the loss.
The Fords jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second
when senior Einbinder drilled a 0-2 fastball well over the left
field fence. The Shoremen threatened in the top of the fourth, putting
runners on second and third with one out. Zier was able to strikeout
Tony Tozzolo for the second out. Sophomore outfielder Dean Laganosky
saved two potential runs, ranging towards the infield and making
a diving catch on a popup off the bat of Tyler Corbutt to end Washington's
inning at the plate. Senior outfielder Ben Field was hit by a pitch
to lead off the fourth and with one out stole second. Field was
driven in on a single up the middle off the bat of senior catcher
Kenny McAlpine. Junior Steve Andelman followed with a single of
his own, while freshman Robbie Crabtree walked to load the bases.
Rickert worked a bases loaded walk to give the Fords a 3-1 advantage
after four innings of play.
Einbinder crushed his second solo home run of the game over the
left field fence with two outs in the bottom of the fifth to push
Haverford’s lead to 4-1. With one out in the sixth and senior
pitcher Jon Berke on the hill, Rickert flashed his glove and saved
a potential base runner with a leaping catch on a flare off the
bat of Matt Boucher. Haverford tacked on an insurance run in the
sixth inning on a triple to deep center field off the bat of Chris
Dooley, followed by an RBI single by Crabtree en route to the 5-1
win.
Zier evened his season record to 3-3, allowing only one hit and
one earned run in five innings of work. Einbinder was the only Ford
with two hits in the game, both solo home runs. Berke earned his
second save of the season in two solid innings of relief in the
Fords game one victory.
Four early Haverford errors helped Washington to an early 4-0 lead
after three innings of play in game two. The contest remained at
4-0 until the Fords came back with three runs in the bottom half
of the fourth inning on RBI singles by Andelman and third baseman
Drew Wilcox. Junior catcher Will Stafford drove in Haverford's third
run with a sacrifice fly, scoring Andelman. Washington added one
run in the top of the fifth, but Haverford again answered with one
run of its own in the bottom half on another RBI single by Andelman,
scoring senior outfielder Ben Field to make the score 5-4.
Sophomore infielder Jamie Hollowell and Dooley registered back-to-back
one out singles in the sixth. Field stepped to the dish with two
outs and smacked a three run home run over the short porch in right
field to give the Fords their first lead of the game, 7-5.
The Shoremen capitalized on two Fords errors in the ninth inning
and were able to plate four runs in the frame to take a late 9-7
advantage. McAlpine worked a one out walk in the bottom of the ninth
and Wilcox followed with a blast over the left field fence to knot
the game at nine. With two outs in the 11th, Crabtree smacked a
two out double down the right field line. Rickert, who entered the
game in the 10th inning as a defensive replacement, followed with
a line drive single up the middle. With head coach Dave Beccaria
sending pinch runner Gabe Stutman to the plate all the way, Stutman's
hand grazed the plate just before Washington catcher Mike DeBartolome
could apply the tag to give Haverford the 10-9 win.
Field, Hollowell and Andelman each had three hits in the game for
Haverford. Field finished with two doubles, a home run, three RBI
three runs scored and a stolen base in the game while Hollowell
had three singles and a run scored. Andelman drove in two runs and
scored one more while Wilcox finished 2-for-6 with a home run, three
RBI and a run scored. Eight Fords scored a run while nine Haverford
batters reached base in the game.
Berke (3-0) picked up the win in relief for Haverford, throwing
2 1/3 innings of relief, allowing three hits. Senior pitcher Nat
Ballanberg tossed 3 1/3 innings of sturdy middle relief for Haverford,
striking out four Shoremen while allowing only three base runners.
The Fords are scheduled to do battle with a doubleheader at Centennial
foe Gettysburg on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
