COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Haverford College baseball team (17-12, 6-6 CC) completed a season sweep of Ursinus (17-15, 4-8 CC) with a hard-fought 12–9 victory over the Bears on Friday afternoon at Thomas Field.
The Fords totaled 13 hits and drew seven walks en route to the win, powered by multi-hit performances from Harry Genth, Jackson Sgro, Jack Wallis, and Anthony Runfola.
Genth went 2-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI, and three runs scored. He matched the Haverford program's career home run record, previously held by Ben Einbinder '07, with his 35th career blast to lead off the contest.
He then launched his 36th in the seventh inning, becoming Haverford's all-time home run leader with his national-best 17th homer of the season. Genth extended his hitting streak to 29 games and matched the Centennial Conference record with home runs in five consecutive contests dating back to Sunday.
Sgro led all hitters with a 4-for-5 day—his career high—driving in three runs and doubling twice. Wallis and Runfola each added two hits and two RBIs, while the bullpen trio of Adam Naegelen, Wyatt Mattison, and Riley Grohowski combined for 7.0 innings of four-run relief with 10 strikeouts.
The Fords struck first when Genth launched a solo shot to left in the top of the first, matching the program's home run record. After two outs, Chuck Norton singled and came around to score on an RBI single by Sgro to make it 2–0. Ursinus responded in the bottom half with three runs, capitalizing on wild pitches and a passed ball. Patrick Balos tied the game with an RBI single, and Devin Fogg was hit by a pitch to force in the go-ahead run.
Haverford bounced back quickly in the second, erupting for five runs on four hits. Genth drew a bases-loaded walk to even the score, followed by an RBI single from Wallis. Runfola drove in two with a base hit through the left side, and Sgro capped the inning with another RBI single to give the Fords a 7–3 advantage.
Ursinus trimmed the lead with two runs in the third, including an RBI double from George Nestor and a throwing error that allowed him to score. Haverford answered in the fourth when Sgro doubled again to drive in Runfola. The Bears once again cut the deficit, scoring twice in the bottom half on a Balos RBI single and a sacrifice fly from Jakob Cantor, pulling within one at 8–7.
In the fifth, Wallis drove in another run on a fielder's choice and later scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 10–7. Miles Prusek added an RBI single in the sixth, and Genth's second home run of the game—a towering shot to center in the seventh—provided the final run of the contest and some crucial insurance in a game filled with momentum swings.
Ursinus threatened late. Mitchell Garber reached on an error in the sixth to plate a run, then added an RBI single in the eighth to bring the Bears within three. But the Haverford bullpen held firm, stranding three Ursinus runners in the final two innings. Daniel Rosman made a highlight-reel, lunging catch in center field to end the eighth and leave the bases loaded on a ball that may have tied the game had it gotten past him.
Starter Jack Couture lasted two innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits and four walks. Naegelen picked up the win in relief, striking out six over 3.1 innings. Mattison allowed one run over 2.2 innings in a gritty 77-pitch outing, and Grohowski earned the save—his second of the season—by retiring the side in the ninth after Andrew Richter led off with a single against Mattison.
The Fords will now face a quick turnaround, returning to action Saturday, April 19, for a doubleheader against Washington College. First pitch for game one is set for noon, with game two to follow at approximately 3 p.m.
