Box Score

In a game that featured a rough start and a soggy ending, the Muhlenberg baseball team doubled up defending Centennial Conference champion Haverford, 8-4.

The Mules (8-11, 3-4) trailed 4-0 after five batters but rallied to score seven runs in their first three at-bats. Senior Kurt Johnson hit an opposite-field line-drive home run in the bottom of the fifth, and the game was called in the middle of the sixth due to rain.

The first five batters for Haverford (5-14, 1-6) produced a walk, hit batsman, single, two-run double and two-run single. The last hitter was thrown out trying to steal second, and the restart suited sophomore Troy Elias, who did not give up a run the rest of the way. He retired seven straight batters in one stretch and struck out four in his 5 2/3-inning stint.

Senior Seth Fenster relieved Elias in the sixth and struck out what would be the last batter of the game with two runners on base.

A double by senior Nick Kennedy was bobbled in the bottom of the first, allowing the first Muhlenberg run to score. In the second, senior Michael Giordano (pictured above) laced a triple to right-center gap, then scored the tying run on a grounder.

Senior Nick Plinio opened the third by dunking a hit into right center and went to third on a wild pickoff throw by the Ford pitcher. He scored the go-ahead run on a groundout, and Giordano singled in Johnson, who walked and stole second, to make it 6-4. Giordano crossed to third on a wild pickoff throw by the catcher and came home on a wild pitch for the final run of the inning.

Kennedy was hit by a pitch for the 32nd time in his career in the second inning, moving out of a three-way tie for first place on the Mules' all-time list and giving him sole possession of the school record.