Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Junior pitcher Kenny Stone (Orlando, Fla./Bishop Moore Catholic) was forced into emergency duty at first base and went 3-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI including the go-ahead runs in a wild, 18-15 comeback win against Haverford in game two of a Centennial Conference (CC) doubleheader at Kirchhoff Field on Sunday afternoon. The Bullets dropped the opener, 4-3, in eight innings, but now need just one win or a Haverford loss in the remaining two contests to punch their CC playoff ticket.

The second game featured a combined 33 runs, 36 hits, six errors and 18 runners left on base. At least one team scored in each of the first eight innings, including half innings of five, six, six and seven runs.

Gettysburg senior right-fielder Chase Straub (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) was 4-for-6 with three RBI and two runs in the nightcap. The four hits match his career high set earlier this season. Straub and Stone were two of five Bullets with at least three hits in a 25-hit outburst over two games. Gettysburg also got three RBI apiece from five players. Freshman second baseman Mike Backus (Piscataway, N.J./Immaculata) connected for his second career home run in game two. Senior designated hitter Joe Bonyai (Torrington, Conn./Hotchkiss School) was 3-for-6 with four walks, including two intentional, three RBI and three runs scored. He reached base at a .700 clip for the day. Junior center fielder Sean McGee (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) was also 3-for-6 with an RBI. He crossed the plate five times.

For the Fords (18-11, 9-7 CC), senior designated hitter Ben Einbinder was a combined 4-for-9 with six RBI and two runs scored. In game two alone, he was 3-for-6 with two doubles and a two-run home run. He drove in five runs and scored twice. Five different Fords had at least three hits on the day.

Haverford had a 6-0 lead before the first out was recorded in the game and it grew to 9-0 before Gettysburg had gone through the order once. Senior right-hander Donny Poster allowed just one hit in the first three innings, but he was unable to regain that form following an 18-minute injury delay in the bottom of the third inning.

Senior third baseman Ryan Stephens ripped a one-out double and was stranded in the top of the fourth, and the Bullets put up seven runs in the bottom of the inning. Gettysburg used five hits and an error to play station-to-station ball and cut the deficit to 9-7.

The Fords jumped right back in the top of the next inning with five runs. The big blow was Einbinder's two-run home run following a run-scoring balk.

The two sides exchanged scoreless half innings for one of just two times in the game, and the Bullets began the comeback in earnest in the bottom of the sixth. They would score at least two runs in each of their last three turns.

McGee led off the inning with a single to center. Backus followed with a home run to left, and junior catcher Michael Donohue (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

The home half of the seventh started with the Bullets trailing 14-10, but finally saw them take the lead. They scored six runs on six hits. Stone came up with the bases loaded and ripped a single up the middle that glanced off the glove of a diving Jeff Rickert and got just far enough away for to allow Straub and Donohue to score, making it 16-14.

Haverford halved the deficit on an RBI groundout by pinch hitter Jeff Lichtstein in the top of the eighth, but Gettysburg would add a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the inning. Straub doubled home Bonyai and sophomore shortstop Scott Vlaydka (Stanhope, N.J./Lenape Valley Regional) to set the final margin.

Freshman Derek Zaleski (Haddonfield, N.J./Haddonfield) went 2 2/3 innings allowing just one run to pick up his first career win. Classmate Ryan Dwyer (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) got the save in his first career appearance.

The game two win could have clinched the playoff spot, but Haverford scored four runs in its last three at bats in game one to erase a 2-0 deficit.

Gettysburg got on the board first with a two-run double by Bonyai that hit two-thirds of the way up the right field wall in the bottom of the third inning. That would be all of the scoring until the top of the sixth when junior right fielder Steve Andelman plated two with a single to left-center field. Junior right-hander Mike Ciancio (Roseland, N.J./Newark Academy) eluded further trouble by snagging a line drive back through the box and throwing to first for the inning-ending double play.

Ciancio pitched well despite taking the loss, going the distance for his third complete game of the season. He scattered seven hits and just two of the four runs he allowed were earned. Freshman second baseman Jake Kaden double to plate pinch runner Chris Dooley. He ran for junior left fielder Drew Wilcox, who reached on an error.

The Bullets rallied in the bottom of the inning to tie it up on a single by Vladyka that scored McGee. He had reached on a single up the middle and was sacrifice to second by Backus. Gettysburg then loaded the bases with one out, forcing the Fords to bring the infield in. Stephens made a nice diving stop on a hard-hit ball by Straub and gunned down Vladyka at the plate to prevent the winning run from scoring. Senior John Castronova, pitching his second inning in relief, got a groundout by the next batter to end the inning.

Einbinder singled with one out in the top of the eighth, scoring sophomore infielder Jamie Hollowell, who had singled and gone to second on an error. Gettysburg was retired in order in the bottom of the inning.

Gettysburg will return to action on Tuesday when the Bullets play host to Catholic in a non-conference game. The first pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.