FORT MYERS, Fla. - In a back-and-forth contest in the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic, the Haverford College baseball team (3-4) prevailed over Plymouth State (4-7) by a 10-8 final score at the Player Development Complex. The Fords scored six runs in their final two turns at the plate, pulling away from the Panthers with a late rally. Zach Becker had a four-hit contest, as Haverford's offensive core of Zachs - Becker, Zach Landry, Zach Buck, and Zach Crampton - combined for eight of Haverford's 12 hits.
The Fords sent six pitchers to the hill on Thursday afternoon, with Luke Bessette getting the starting assignment. The first year turned in 4.2 innings pitched, surrendering six hits and allowing four earned runs with four strikeouts. Plymouth State staked a 2-0 lead with runs in the third and fourth innings, but the Fords responded in the fourth with Oliver Bergeron finding the gap for a triple, plating Crampton and Landry to tie the score at two.
PSU responded back in the fifth, with a pair of bases loaded walks giving the lead to the Panthers. The Zachs went back to work in the bottom of the frame, with Landry and Buck tallying consecutive doubles to again knot things at 4-4. Despite Plymouth State taking the lead in the sixth and adding to that advantage with a three-run frame in the seventh to take a 8-5 lead, Haverford was undaunted in its offensive approach.
The Fords erupted four a four-run rally in the seventh. Becker singled ahead of a double from Harry Genth. Landry was hit by a pitch and Buck then walked with the bases loaded. Kyle Beach came off the bench in a pinch hit role and made the most of that opportunity,, reaching on an RBI fielder's choice. Anthony Runfola later drew a walk as a pinch hitter and Kendrick Curry II then notched an RBI groundout as the Fords suddenly had recorded four consecutive RBI without the benefit of a hit to tie the score at 8-8.
Moving back to more conventional offensive firepower in the eighth, another leadoff single from Becker came ahead of a walk to Genth and an RBI single by Landry to give the Fords a lead they would not relinquish. Crampton delivered a booming sac fly to plate Genth as an insurance run as the Fords reached double digits for the second time in 2022.
Riley Grohowski (2-0) was called upon in the later innings, notching the win, scattering just three hits and striking out five in 2.2 innings of work.
The Fords now wrap up the eventful week at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic with a doubleheader against Hiram, with action slated to begin at 9 a.m. on Friday. The final game of the trip is then slated for Saturday, a 9 a.m. first pitch against Muskingum on getaway day.