SCRANTON, Pa. - Senior co-captain shortstop Will Karp helped key the offensive effort, matching a program record with three doubles and a pair of RBI as the Haverford College baseball team (1-2) picked up its first victory of the season at Scranton on Wednesday evening. Haverford, making a rare appearance under the lights, was playing the program's first game in the Electric City.
The Fords never trailed in the contest, as Haverford struck for runs in each of the first three innings against Scranton pitchers Alex DeRosa and Conner DiAngelo. Karp led off the contest with a walk and came home on a single from Luke Wallis to put the Fords on the scoreboard. In his next at-bat, Karp doubled in Ben Somorjai and Ryan Schwartz to give Haverford a 3-1 advantage.
Scranton pulled back to within one as Tyler Kristen added an RBI single off Ryan Giovenco in the second, but the Schwartz brothers teamed up to push another run across for Haverford in the third. Grant Schwartz tripled to lead off the frame, and after a walk to Owen Plambeck, Ryan Schwartz singled into right field to plate his twin for a 4-2 advantage.
The two sides then swapped scoreless frames before Scranton threatened in the bottom of the sixth against Eric Kopczynski (1-0). The Royals got a pair on with a single and a walk, and Dan Crossan then singled up the middle to trim the Haverford lead back to just one run at 4-3. Kopczynski swiftly got out of the jam, inducing a double play grounder to limit the damage and send Haverford back to the dugout with the lead.
The seventh saw Karp lead off with his second double of the night, and Zach Landry follow with an RBI double of his own. Luke Smith tripled in the inning, and Grant Schwartz then placed a two-bagger down the left field line to plate a pair as Haverford suddenly found itself in command up 8-3. Scranton added a single run in the bottom of the seventh, but Haverford then called on its standout reliever, senior Brandon Jenkins. The lefty picked off where he left off in 2019, twirling three no-hit innings, striking out four, and surrendering just one baserunner to pick up his first save of the season and send the Fords to a hard-fought road victory.
Haverford recorded five doubles and three triples in the contest, as catcher Ben Somorjai also connected on a three-bagger as the Fords took advantage of the Volpe Field dimensions to showcase the power of the lineup. Haverford also looked strong on the basepaths, with Karp swiping a pair of bases while Landry and Smith also recorded their first stolen bases of the season.
Baseball now will embark on its annual spring break trip to Fort Myers, Fla. and the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic. The Fords will open their nine-game stint in the Sunshine State with a doubleheader against Wittenberg on Sunday, March 8. First pitch of game one is slated for noon.