February 25, 2012
Swarthmore Baseball Splits Season-Opening Doubleheader With Catholic, 7-0 (W) and 12-6 (L)
WASHINGTON - Paced by an ace-like performance from senior left-hander Ignacio Rodriguez, the Swarthmore baseball team split a season-opening doubleheader against the Catholic University Cardinals on Saturday. The Garnet took Game 1 by a 7-0 score before dropping the second game, 12-6.
Rodriguez, one year removed from a breakout season in which he led the team in wins while posting a 3.45 ERA, threw a seven-inning complete game shutout, allowing only three hits and striking out eight.
The Garnet got off to a hot start, scoring twice in the first inning on a groundout by senior DH Michael Cameron and a single by junior right fielder Tim Kwilos. In the third, Swarthmore staged a two-out rally, capped by junior left fielder Sean Bryant's two-run single, which put the team up 4-0. Sophomore first baseman Nicko Burnett singled in a run in the fourth and then homered in the seventh to lead the team with a pair of hits and a pair of RBIs.
The Cardinals came back strong in the second game, as they quickly overcame a 1-0 Swarthmore advantage and scored multiple runs in every inning but the sixth to double up the Garnet,12-6. Kwilos contributed three RBIs in the loss, and senior second baseman Anthony Montalbano picked up two hits. Sophomore reliever Matt Bertuch threw a scoreless inning in the first pitching appearance of his college career.
Swarthmore will play its home opener on Sunday, as Eastern comes to visit for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for noon
