HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College baseball team (14-10, 3-4 CC) notched a key Centennial Conference victory at Kannerstein Field on Wednesday, overpowering visiting Muhlenberg (13-13, 3-4 CC) by an 11-1 final in eight innings.
First-year hurler David Bertz got the start for the Fords and was masterful, striking out seven while allowing just two hits and one unearned run over 6.2 innings. Sam Cohen came on in relief, working the final 1.1 innings and striking out three of the four batters he faced.
Haverford's offense was firing on all cylinders, with first-year Jackson Sgro launching a pair of home runs as part of a four-RBI day. Harry Genth went 2-for-2 with the game-ending triple, walking things off early as the run-rule was triggered in the bottom of the eighth.
Genth reached base in all five of his plate appearances, adding two walks and a hit-by-pitch. Luke Treese and Anthony Runfola each laced doubles, while the Fords stole five bases—highlighted by Treese swiping home in the sixth.
Haverford opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, plating three runs against Muhlenberg starter Kieran Mulholland. The first three batters reached safely: Genth led off with a single to left, followed by a perfectly placed bunt hit from Jack Wallis. Runfola then drove in Genth with a double down the left field line. With two outs, Sgro connected on a two-run shot to left, giving the Fords an early 3-0 lead.
The Fords added three more runs in the fourth. Matt Dahl walked, and Treese followed with a perfectly placed infield single. After a double steal, Jonny Flieder tapped a grounder to short. Forced to contend with two baserunners, the Muhlenberg shortstop threw home to try and cut down Dahl, but the throw went wide of the plate, allowing a run to score. Treese then came home on a wild pitch, and Wallis added an RBI with a sacrifice bunt to make it 6-0.
Muhlenberg scratched across an unearned run in the fifth, but Treese answered with a leadoff double in the sixth. With two outs, Genth was hit by a pitch, setting up a double steal that plated Treese.
Sgro struck again in the seventh, launching his second homer of the afternoon—another lofty fly ball to left—for a commanding 9-1 advantage. Needing just two more runs to end the game via the 10-run rule, the Fords got to work in the eighth against James Hopke. Flieder was hit by a pitch and stole second. After Daniel Rosman walked, Genth came through once again, smashing a triple to drive in both runners and seal the 11-1 win.
Haverford now returns to action on Friday, completing the home-and-home series with the Mules. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. at the brand new Bicentennial Park in Allentown, Pa. as the Fords will be the first visiting team to christen the new venue.
