SWARTHMORE, Pa.—One week after a thrilling walk-off win against Arcadia University, Swarthmore College Baseball did it again on Tuesday against the Neumann University Knights. Swarthmore won 4-3 when Charlie Levitt was hit with a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing freshman
Coleson Hebble to cross the plate as the game-winning run.
The Garnet struggled at the plate for most of the game, only recording one hit through the first seven innings. In the eighth, the Garnet finally scored off of the team's first home run of the season, a two-run shot to right field from
Cole Beeker that left the park quickly.
A sac fly by pinch hitter
James Rutledge in the bottom of the ninth tied the game at 3-3 and extended the game.
Freshman
Owen Webb, who got the win in his first collegiate appearance, pitched a perfect 10th inning, getting two batters out on the first pitch of the at-bat. Webb went five scoreless innings in relief, striking out five, while walking none and only allowing two hits.
Ryan Warm got the start and struck out eight batters in six innings.
The Garnet stranded two runners on base in the 10th and then Webb had another perfect frame in the top of the 11th. With daylight quickly waning, Swarthmore avoided a tie by rallying in the bottom of the 11th. Hebble started the inning with a single up the middle. A bunt attempt by fellow freshman
Michael Sepe was mishandled, allowing him to reach and Hebble to advance. Rutledge laid down a sac bunt and
AJ Liu drew an intentional walk to load the bases.
Levitt worked the count full and fouled off the first payoff pitch. Levitt, who had been pegged with a pitch in the third inning, and who had been hit four times previously this season, wore another pitch that ran high and inside, advancing all the runners on base and giving Swarthmore the 4-3 win.
For Garnet head coach
Matt Midkiff, the win is his 100th as the Swarthmore skipper.
Next up for the Garnet is their Spring Break 2018 trip to the Pacific Northwest starting with a doubleheader at Lewis & Clark College on Saturday.
