Despite poor weather and field conditions, the Allegheny College baseball team earned a home sweep in the two-day, four-game series versus the Kenyon College Lords this past weekend. The Gators dominated their NCAC opponent in three games of the four-game series. Led by Cullen Flaherty, ’18, and Austin Bristol, ’19, the team earned an 8–5 victory in the first game on Sunday, April 2.

Allegheny scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to come back from a three-run deficit in the first game, yet in Sunday’s second game, Kenyon split the doubleheader with six runs in the top of the ninth inning to win by another 8–5 score.

Flaherty and Noah Shannon, ’18, anticipated a home sweep for the remaining pair of games.

“We expected to defeat Kenyon, our entire team agreed that we needed to start off our conference play with a sweep in the series,” said Shannon.

Allegheny’s opening weekend for the NCAC continued on Monday, April 3 after the doubleheader scheduled for Saturday, April 1 was postponed. Overcoming adversity and weariness, the Gators earned victories in both of the remaining games of the weekend series against Kenyon. Led by senior players Jacob Shick, Robert DiMaggio and Patrick Orr, the baseball team secured a 9–1 win in the opening game, and 4–2 win in the later.

“During our spring break we became accustomed to playing up to 18 innings a day, and that prepared us for weekends like this,” said DiMaggio.

The team was successful offensively through its March games, especially in their notable wins over teams such as Wisconsin-Superior at the Tucson Invitational during their spring break trip.

“Giving up six runs in the bottom of the ninth was disheartening, but we knew we were the better team,” Shick said. “With perseverance, we swept the following day, and it was a great note to end the series on.”

With the home sweep, Allegheny improved its overall season record 9–6, and will continue 3–1 in the conference.

“I hope we continue on the track we are on and sweep our remaining conference games,” DiMaggio said. “We have high expectations. Our senior class has made the NCAC tournament twice thus far and expect to be in the running again.”

Shick said not reaching the conference championship will be disappointing for the team because they have the talent to get there.

Rob Julian, ’17, agreed and said that continuing to improve moving forward would be necessary for them to find success.

“I think we played well in all four games, … [but] I think we could have pitched better at times,” Julian said. “Getting more into the conference games, every game is important.

The team will play a two-day, four-game series against The College of Wooster on Saturday, April 8, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., and Sunday, April 9, at 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.