CHESTERTOWN, Md. – The Haverford College baseball team (11-21, 5-9 CC) faced a challenging afternoon on the road Saturday, dropping a pair of tightly contested Centennial Conference games to Washington College (21-15, 9-5 CC) at Athey Baseball Park. Despite a resilient offensive showing that saw the Fords plate 20 runs across two games, the Shoremen secured 8-7 and 14-13 victories to sweep the twinbill.

Washington College 8, Haverford 7

The opener was a game of big innings, as both sides leaned on the long ball. Haverford struck first in the second inning when Will Schroen delivered a two-out, two-RBI single to third base, scoring Tommy Belman and Luke Treese.

Washington College answered in the third as Chase Ruppel launched a three-run home run to left field to put the Shoremen ahead 4-2. After Jackson Sgro cut the deficit to one with a towering solo blast in the sixth, Washington College responded in the bottom half of the inning. Brett Connolly delivered the decisive blow with a grand slam to right field, extending the Shoremen lead to 8-3.

Haverford mounted a furious rally in the eighth. Treese drove in two with a single to right, and Belman followed with a two-RBI double to cut the deficit to one run.

In the ninth, Washington College closer Elias Philiposian found himself in the midst of a two-on, one-out situation and worked out of the jam to earn his sixth save of the season. Schroen was hit by a pitch, and after a sacrifice bunt, Mauro DeCillis reached on an infield single. Schroen was cut down at the plate on a Sam Dorian ground ball, and Sgro then flew out to end the game.

Michael Lewis earned the win with 7.1 innings of five-hit, four-run baseball, striking out eight. Ethan Goldstein took the loss for Haverford despite recording four strikeouts.

Washington College 14, Haverford 13

The nightcap was even more explosive, featuring 27 total runs and 27 hits. Sgro opened the scoring with a two-run home run in the first, his second of the day, and finished the game with three hits and four RBIs.  Dorian and Prusek each also posted three-hit performances, with Sgro and Prusek both driving in four runs.

The lead changed hands multiple times through a chaotic middle stretch. Haverford stayed aggressive on the bases, recording six steals, including three from Mauro DeCillis. Home runs from Ty Everitt in the sixth and Brady Wozniak in the seventh helped Washington College build a four-run cushion.

Down 12-8 in the eighth, the Fords rallied again. Sgro delivered a ground-rule double to plate a run, and Miles Prusek followed with a two-RBI single to bring Haverford within one.

In the top of the ninth, Kaden Van Kempen was hit hit by a pitch before Luke Shane laced a pinch-hit single to score pinch-runner Jack Phiel. DeCillis then singled ahead of Dorian, who delivered a bunt single that gave Haverford a 13-12 lead.

The advantage was short-lived. Washington College loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, and with two outs, Brady Wozniak lined a single down the right-field line to bring home the tying and winning runs in walk-off fashion.

Philiposian earned the win in relief for the Shoremen, while Alex Jenkinson was charged with the loss for Haverford.

The Fords will now hop into a home-and-home series with Swarthmore. The Garnet will host the Fords at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18 before Haverford hosts on Friday, April 24 at Kannerstein Field (3:30 p.m.).