March 17, 2007
Fords Tame Panthers in Ten Innings, 11-8
FORT MYERS, FL - Head coach Dave Beccaria's baseball
team finished its 2007 spring break trip to Florida with a 11-8 ten
inning victory over Plymouth State Saturday morning. Senior third
baseman Ryan Stephens drove in the game-winning run with a two-run
bases loaded double in the top of the tenth inning. The Fords finish
their trip down south 8-1 on the week and improve to 8-2 overall on
the season with the win.
Down 4-0 after two innings of play, Haverford rallied to take a 5-4
lead with one run in the third and four runs in the top of the fourth
inning. Plymouth State answered with three runs in the bottom of the
fourth to take a 7-5 advantage. Senior outfielder Ben Field drilled
a triple to score sophomore Dean Laganosky to pull the Fords within
7-6 in the top of the sixth inning. Field later scored on a sacrifice
fly to knot the game at seven after six and a half innings of play.
The Panthers went ahead 8-7 in the bottom of the seventh, but the
Fords bounced back to tie the game at eight in the top of the eighth
inning. Stephens bases loaded double plated two Haverford runners
in the top of the tenth. Drew Wilcox drove in Stephens to give the
Fords the 11-8 lead heading into the bottom of the tenth inning. Senior
pitcher John Castronova came onto the mound in the bottom of the tenth
to close out the game and prevent any sort of Plymouth State rally.
Senior pitcher Jon Burke earned the win for Haverford in relief, throwing
3 2/3 innings allowing one earned run while striking out three. Senior
Travis Zier started the game on the hill and struck out eight over
five innings of work.
The Fords are scheduled to play their home opener on Tuesday against
non-conference foe Neumann at 3:30 p.m.
