April 3, 2012
Baseball Falls Short on the Road at Washington College, 5-3
SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Despite a three-hit day from senior first baseman Spencer Ross and an 11 strikeout performance from senior starter Ignacio Rodriguez, the Swarthmore baseball team (16-7, 2-3 CC) fell just short against the Centennial Conference rival Washington Shoremen (19-3, 4-1 CC), losing 5-3 at Athey Park. The defeat marks the first time all season that the Garnet has lost consecutive games.
Ross went 3-for-4 with a double, driving in a run on a second-inning single. The only other Swarthmore batter with multiple hits was junior centerfielder Rory McTear, who went 2-for-4.
Falling behind 3-0 in the first inning, the Garnet spent the rest of the game clawing back into contention. The team plated its first two runs in the second, when junior right fielder Tim Kwilos led off the inning with a single and senior catcher Mike Waterhouse moved him to third with a double; Kwilos would score on an RBI groundout, and Waterhouse crossed the plate on Ross' single.
In the fifth, the Shoremen extended their lead to 4-2, but the Garnet looked to make a comeback in the seventh, putting its first two men aboard. A strange 2-6 double play on a foul bunt threatened to kill the rally, but a double by senior second baseman Anthony Montalbano brought Swarthmore to within 4-3. That was all the Garnet would get, however, as Washington added a run in the 8th to bring the final score to 5-3.
Rodriguez threw seven and two thirds innings for the Garnet, allowing seven hits and five runs (four earned) in addition to his 11 strikeouts. Junior reliever Ramsey Walker pitched a scoreless inning and a third to finish the game.
Washington starter Shane Mattingly kept the Garnet off balance all afternoon, fanning 12 in a complete game performance.
Swarthmore will attempt to earn its third split in as many Conference series' on Thursday, as the Shoremen visit Clothier Field. First pitch is set for 3:30 pm.
