CARLISLE, Pa. - The Dickinson baseball team opened their Centennial Conference slate on Sunday after by splitting a pair of games against the 25th-ranked Swarthmore College at MacPhail Field. First in game one, the Red and White used a two-run game-tying home run for
Dylan Posencheg, before a bases-loaded wild pitch in the tenth let
Luke Gartland cross for the win. However, in game two the Garnet used a late game push to earn the split.
Game One
Final Score: DEVILS 8, #25 Garnet 7 (F/10)
Team Records: Dickinson (15-6, 1-0 CC) | Swarthmore (14-5, 0-1 CC)
Pitching Decision: W -
Charlie Bien (3-1) | L - Steven Jungers (1-1)
Inside the Game
- After a scoreless first inning, the Garnet put the pressure on Red Devils starter Sam Bliss as a hit batter, single and walk filled the bags for Andrew Firko. He singled and Wilson Henze drew a free pass to make it 2-0. Aidan Sullivan came up with a two double followed by a sacrifice fly for Zac Kahn pushing it to 5-0 with two on and two gone. Bliss then picked off the runner at first ending the frame. In the home-half base hits by Gartland and Miguel Reich along with a sac bunt for Freeman Hunt had two in scoring position. Ethan Sodl then provided an RBI groundout trimming the gap to 5-1 after two.
- A hit batter and error coupled with sacrifices from Alessandro Propper-Bowring and Firko bumped the gap up to 7-1 with two and a half in the books. Dickinson put together a two-out rally in the bottom-half as a single by Johnny Bruno followed with a double for Kyle Bailey set the stage for a wild pitch by Noah Potholm to plate another (7-2).
- Over the next two frames neither side was able to put anything together leaving DC still down five. Glen Cantalupo Jr. came in to pitch the top of the sixth and allowed a walk, but a groundout for Noam AuYeung stalled any threat. The home portion of the inning began with Reich poking one through the left-side, while Hunt reached on an error. The next two batters were retired, which allowed a single for Posencheg to make it 7-3 heading to the seventh.
- Nolan Ross became the third arm for the Red and White, he issued a pair of two out walks before a groundout by Nate Kittredge closed things down. David Herrin replaced Potholm on the hill for Swarthmore. With one away a Bailey single and Gartland two-bagger had two in scoring position for Reich. He would deposit a 1-2 pitch through the left-side (7-4). An inning later the Devils bagged one more when Bruno picked up an RBI single to plate Posencheg who notched a base hit earlier in the frame.
- In the last of the ninth, back-to-back strikeouts from Gabe Elliott put the Devils on the brink of defeat. However, he then walked Will Ferriswhich ended Elliott's day and brought on Steven Jungers to face Posencheg. With a 2-1 count, Posencheg sent a fly ball into left that just kept carrying all the way over the wall to tie the score forcing extras.
- A double and walk gave the visitors a chance to take the lead against Charlie Bien, but he got Evan Hawkes to fly out to Ferris in center for the final out. Walks to Gartland, Reich and Hunt loaded the pillows for the Devils with one gone. A wild pitch with Ben Milligan at bat allowed Gartland to cross for the win.
Dickinson Hitting Leaders
- Hits - Bailey (4), Posencheg and Reich (3), Bruno and Gartland (2)
- RBIs - Posencheg (3), Bruno, Reich and Sodl (1)
- Runs Scored - Gartland and Posencheg (2)
- Home Runs - Posencheg (1)
- Doubles - Bailey and Gartland (1)
Devils Mound Report
- Bliss - 5.0 ip, 7 runs (5 earned), 4 hits, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
- Cantalupo Jr. - 1.0 ip, 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts
- Ross - 3.0 ip, 0 runs, 0 hits, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts
- Bien (W) - 1.0 ip, 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
Game Two
Final Score: #25 Garnet 9, DEVILS 4
Team Records: Dickinson (15-7, 1-1 CC) | Swarthmore (15-5, 1-1 CC)
Pitching Decision: W - Ezra Schwartz (2-0) | L -
Austin Buzza (4-1)
Inside the Game
- Swarthmore got to Buzza in the first as a single for Deven Peterson came around to score on a triple by Brad Johnston. However, Dickinson got the run right back against Jackson Garnecki as a walk to Ferris and single by Bruno sent Bailey to the plate. During his at bat an attempted double steal led to an error allowing one to score. Free passes to both Bailey and Reich in addition to Hunt being plunked by a pitch gave DC a 2-1 edge through one.
- Unfortunately for Dickinson, back-to-back hits plated one, before a fielder's choice from Francisco Mora drove home the go-ahead run. Buzza then recorded consecutive groundouts to retire the side. Garnecki put together a clean home-half to keep the visitors in front 3-2.
- Pitching took over for the next few innings as both Buzza and Garnecki kept the offenses off balance as the game entered the last of the fifth. A single for Ferris and walks to the pair of Bruno and Bailey loaded the bags with one down. That ended the day for Garnecki as he was replaced by Ian Born who gave up a sac fly to Gartland tying the game at 3-3.
- Swarthmore picked up two runs each in the seventh and eighth on a combined four hits to open up a 7-3 lead. In the bottom of the eighth Dickinson tried to get back into the game when with two on and one away Posencheg sent a pitch into right driving home the fourth of the game (7-4). Unfortunately, a pop out and caught stealing thwarted the Devils rally.Â
- The ninth saw the guests grab two more runs as two walks, a hit batter and a double resulted in one scoring, before a wild pitch plated another to make it 9-4. Bruno began the Devils final chance with a walk, but was quickly erased when Bailey hit into a 6-4-3 double play. Reich flew out to center for the last out of the game.
Dickinson Hitting Leaders
- Hits - Bruno (2), Five players tied (1)
- RBIs - Gartland, Hunt and Posencheg (1)
- Runs Scored - Ferris (2), Bruno and Milligan (1)
Devils Mound Report
- Buzza (L) - 7.0 ip, 5 runs (3 earned) 8 hits, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts
- John Talt - 1 batter, 1 run (earned), 0 hits, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts
- Aidan McElhatton - 0.2 ip, 1 run (earned), 2 hits, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts
- Michael Niszczak - 1.1 ip, 2 runs (earned), 1 hit, 2 walks, 1 strikeout
The On-Deck Circle
- Dickinson (15-7, 1-1 Centennial) returns to action on Tuesday afternoon when they head to Allentown for a conference matchup with Muhlenberg College. First pitch is slated for 3:30pm.