Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

SWARTHMORE, Pa. – Gettysburg used a five-run inning in each game to sweep Swarthmore in Centennial Conference (CC) action at Clothier Fields on Saturday afternoon. The Bullets came back from a 4-2 seventh-inning deficit to win 10-5 in nine innings in the opener and capped the day off with a 10-7 victory in game two.

Gettysburg (21-6, 10-4 CC) junior center fielder Sean McGee (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) made the most of his 2-for-10 performance with three RBI and four runs scored. Sophomore second baseman Mike Backus (Piscataway, N.J./Immaculata), coming off a 4-for-4 performance on Friday, went 4-for-11 with a double, a triple, two RBI and a run scored. Seniors Joe Bonyai (Torrington, Conn./Hotchkiss School) and Chase Straub (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) each turned in a 3-for-9 performance and scored three runs apiece.

The Garnet (4-22, 2-14 CC) got a huge day from sophomore infielder Conor Casey, who was 7-for-10 with two RBI and four runs scored. Junior catcher Andy Bender was 5-for-8 with three RBI, and freshman Jimmy Gill had four hits, including a triple, in nine turns at the plate.

In game one, Swarthmore got a three-run fourth inning to erase a 2-1 deficit and looked to be poised for the win. An eventful top of the seventh saw Gettysburg plate three runs on just one hit thanks to a pair of Garnet errors.

Senior Brian Pernice (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown) led off the inning and reached on a pinch-hit single. The next two hitters were retired before senior third baseman Ben Carey (Colchester, Conn./St. Bernard) drew a walk. Bonyai then reached on an error that should have ended the game, but instead it plated Pernice to cut the deficit to one at 4-3. After a pitching change, junior catcher Michael Donohue (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) also reached on an error that scored Bonyai and Carey with the tying and go-ahead runs.

Carey's run proved to be important because Swarthmore tied it on a one-out triple by Gill and an RBI single by sophomore left fielder Grant Yoshitsu to force extra innings.

Gettysburg put a pair on with one out in the top of the eighth, but could not scratch out a run. Freshman right-hander Packer Larson (Newark, Del./St. Mark's) set the home squad down in order in the bottom of the inning, which allowed him to pick up his first career win.

His teammates erupted for five runs in the top of the ninth inning to break the game open. Bonyai led off and reached on an error. He was sacrificed to second by Donohue and advanced to third on a single by sophomore shortstop Scott Vladyka (Stanhope, N.J./Lenape Valley Regional). Straub then singled to drive in what proved to be the winning run, but Gettysburg was not finished. Two-run doubles by McGee and Backus put it out of reach.

The Bullets made sure a comeback would not be necessary in the nightcap by scoring eight times in the first three innings. Backus led off the game with a triple to right-center field and scored on a sacrifice fly by Carey. Straub later scored on an error to give Gettysburg a lead it would never relinquish.

The visitors tacked on another run in the top of the second. McGee led off with a single, went to second on a failed pickoff attempt and took third on a passed ball. He scored on an RBI single by freshman shortstop Cory Beddick (Columbia, Pa./Hempfield), who made his collegiate debut in fine fashion. He was 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.

The Garnet got that run back in the bottom of the inning, but the Bullets answered with another five-run inning in their next turn. They used five hits and two Swarthmore errors to extend the lead to 8-2.

Gettysburg pushed the lead to 10-3 in the seventh on an RBI double by senior left fielder Mark Campo (Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville) and a run-scoring single by Beddick. The Garnet scored two runs each in the eighth and ninth innings to make the final 10-7.

Sophomore right-hander Jeff McAndrew (Medford, N.J./Sewanee) earned his second win by pitching eight complete innings. He allowed five runs on 12 hits and struck out a career-high seven hitters without walking a batter.

The Bullets will be back in action on Sunday when they take on Haverford in a home doubleheader that has been postponed twice this season. The first pitch of game one is slate for 12:30 p.m.