FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Haverford College baseball team (8-3) swept a doubleheader against the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford (5-8) on Friday as part of the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic at Terry Park. Haverford won both games with late-inning heroics, walking off in seven innings, 7-6, in the first game, then taking the lead in the top of the seventh, 5-4, in the second game before Wyatt Mattison slammed the door with a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the frame.
Haverford 7, Pitt-Bradford 6
Haverford jumped to an early lead in game one, providing ample run support for reigning CC Pitcher of the Week Mike Rabayda. The Fords tagged Maddox Stadler for three runs in the first inning, with Daniel Rosman walking before Jack Wallis roped a double. Luke Treese contributed with an RBI groundout, followed by Kyle Beach's infield single driving in another run. Chuck Norton then doubled, and Matt Dahl added an RBI single in the inning.
Luke Wallis extended the lead with another RBI double in the second inning, scoring Rosman, while Treese hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth, putting the Fords ahead 5-0 over the Panthers.
Rabayda showcased his dominance on the mound, pitching five scoreless innings and allowing only three singles. However, he faced trouble in the sixth when Pitt-Bradford loaded the bases and rallied to score four runs, taking a 6-5 lead. Despite the setback, Rabayda retired the Panthers in order in the seventh inning to set the tone for the offense.
In the bottom of the seventh, Haverford mounted its comeback. Norton singled, followed by a walk to pinch hitter Kendrick Curry II. Mauro Decillis then singled to tie the score, and a walk-off single from Pranav Rane secured the victory for the Fords.
Wallis, Norton, and Kyle Beach each had multiple hits for Haverford, while Rabayda earned the win with seven innings pitched and eight strikeouts. Nico Hall and Kyle Kimoto had multi-hit games for Pitt-Bradford, with four different players recording RBIs.
Haverford 5, Pitt-Bradford 4
In the second game, the Fords entrusted Colin Lewis on the mound, and the sophomore received early support with two first-inning runs. After Rosman was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a balk, Treese singled him home and later scored on another balk, giving Haverford the 2-0 lead.
Despite the Panthers rallying to take a 4-2 lead, Haverford fought back in the fourth inning. Curry walked, stole second and third base, and scored on a double from Sam Schaeffer. Rane then tied the game with an RBI groundout.
Lewis pitched 4.1 innings of two-hit, one-earned run ball before Wyatt Mattison took over from the bullpen, ultimately securing the win for Haverford. Wallis's seventh-inning leadoff bunt single set up Dahl's go-ahead RBI double, sealing the victory.
Wallis and Treese both had two hits and two stolen bases, while Curry also stole two bases in the thriller. Haverford limited Pitt-Bradford to three hits without allowing any extra-base hits.
The Fords conclude the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic tomorrow at 9 a.m. against Merchant Marine in a nine-inning contest, before returning home to the Philadelphia area for a non-conference game against No. 10 Rowan on Tuesday, March 19 (3:30 p.m.).