Baseball Thumps the Diplomats on Senior Day Doubleheader, Clean Sweep 13-5 and 19-0

SWARTHMORE, Pa. - As the Class of 2012 played its final games at Clothier Field, the Swarthmore baseball team (21-12, 7-8 CC) showed all of its offensive might on Saturday in a doubleheader pounding of the Franklin & Marshall Diplomats (16-20, 5-10 CC).  The Garnet won the first game 13-5, and followed up with a 19-0 blowout in Game 2.

Senior Day ceremonies honored Anthony Montalbano, Kyle Crawford, Mike Waterhouse, Miles Santo, Spencer Ross, Mike Cameron, Zach Schmidt, Ignacio Rodriguez, Adam Hardy, Zach Weiner, Sam Menzin, and Matt Lamb.

The Garnet were at no loss for hits on Saturday, including sophomore Nicko Burnett's six-hit, six-RBI day, freshman centerfielder Zach Powell's four-hit, six RBI performance in Game 2 and junior Tim Kwilos' three-hit, 4-RBI showing in the first game. Seniors also ruled the day on the mound, as Crawford threw eight stellar innings in Game 2, allowing no runs and striking out eight, while reliever Hardy earned the win in Game 1 with three and two thirds scoreless.

A first-inning double steal put the Garnet on the board in Game 1, and a double from second baseman Montalbano and a sacrifice fly from third baseman Waterhouse gave Swarthmore a 3-0 advantage.  The Garnet appeared to blow the game open in the fourth, scoring four times courtesy of a Burnett triple and another Waterhouse sac fly and heading to the fifth leading 7-0.

After four innings of scoreless work, starter Rodriguez ran into trouble, allowing four quick runs to put the Diplomats back into contention before being relieved by Hardy, who induced an inning-ending double play.

That was as close as F&M would get, as the Garnet scored twice in the bottom of the sixth on a Kwilos single and added four more in the seventh courtesy of a Burnett single, a Kwilos double, and one of the Diplomats' four balks in the game.

Game 2 was highlighted by a 13-run seventh inning, although Swarthmore's offense had effectively put the game away even before the outburst.  RBI hits from Powell and junior designated hitter Sean Bryant put the Garnet up 3-0 in the first; Powell singled home two more in the third, and Montalbano's fourth-inning hit gave Swarthmore a 6-0 advantage.

With Crawford cruising, that appeared to be a comfortable lead; however, in the seventh inning, the Garnet managed to bat around twice to turn the 6-0 game into a 19-0 laugher.  Nine men came to bat before the first out was recorded, and the Garnet recorded eleven hits, all of which scored runs.  Junior Rory McTear, who had pinch-hit for Kwilos to begin the inning, came to bat three times before the final out was recorded.

Despite the layoff, Crawford remained masterful, kept from a 1-2-3 eighth only by a case of catcher's interference.  Junior Ramsey Walker finished the game with a perfect ninth.

Eleven of Swarthmore's twelve seniors saw action in today's games.

The Garnet will return to action on Monday in a non-Conference game against Rutgers-Camden.  First pitch is set for 6:00 pm.