HAVERFORD, Pa. – Despite a persistent offensive effort, the Haverford College baseball team could not overcome a midgame power surge from Swarthmore College, falling 8-3 on Friday afternoon at Kannerstein Field. Swarthmore starter Noah Potholm proved to be the difference maker, tossing a complete game to stifle the Fords' bats. While Haverford (12-22, 6-10 CC) collected nine hits, Potholm's ability to navigate high-traffic situations kept the hosts off the scoreboard until the seventh inning.
The Garnet (23-13, 8-8 CC) opened the scoring in the first inning on a Brad Johnston RBI single, but the contest remained a defensive stalemate until the sixth. Leading 1-0, Swarthmore's offense erupted for three solo home runs in the top of the frame, off the bats of Zac Kahn, Johnston, and Nathaniel Kittredge, to push the lead to 4-0.
The Fords finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh. Miles Prusek ignited the dugout with a leadoff double and later crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Tommy Belman. Haverford's most significant threat came in the eighth inning. After Sammy Angel and Mauro DeCillis singled, Jackson Sgro loaded the bases with an infield hit. Prusek then delivered a clutch two-run single up the middle, scoring Angel and Mauro DeCillis to trim the deficit to 8-3.
Haverford starter Alex Jenkinson suffered the loss, pitching six strong innings and striking out five. Swarthmore extended the cushion to 7-0 in the seventh, but the Haverford bullpen provided several bright spots to keep the Fords within striking distance. Ethan Goldstein entered in the seventh and worked a full inning, inducing two groundouts to stabilize the Garnet attack. Aidan O'Sullivan was dominant in the eighth, striking out Evan Hawkes and Zac Kahn to end the frame. Colin Lewis closed the afternoon on the mound for Haverford with a perfect ninth inning, needing just 12 pitches to retire the side in order.
Prusek led the Haverford offense with a 2-for-4 performance and two RBIs, while Angel finished a game-best 3-for-4. Sgro also contributed two hits in the effort.
Swarthmore gained a half-point in the 2025-26 rendition of the Hood Trophy rivalry series, which the Garnet now lead by one point at 7.5 to 6.5 with four more event sto go.
Haverford will look to bounce back on Sunday, April 26 in the regular season finale. The Fords will host Dickinson in a Centennial Conference doubleheader at Kannerstein Field, with the first pitch of game one scheduled for noon.
