RICHMOND, Indiana - The Earlham College baseball team stole 14 bases in a doubleheader sweep of Transylvania University on Friday, winning game one 8-2 and game two 7-4 at Randal R. Sadler Stadium.
In game one, Transylvania opened the game scoring an unearned run in the first inning, but Earlham answered with two unearned runs of its own in the bottom of the third. Leading 2-1, senior Howie Smith shutdown the Pioneer offense in the top of the fourth, and senior Nate Lynch's two-RBI single in the bottom half of the inning stretched the Quakers' lead to 4-1.
Transylvania narrowed its deficit to 4-2 in the top of the seventh, but Earlham responded with four runs on four hits in the bottom half of the inning to put the game away.
Senior Howie Smith improved to 7-4 on the season with his third complete game victory in a row. The Hamilton, Ohio native allowed just three hits and struck out eight while walking nobody in the win. Tom Banahan took the loss for Transylvania allowing two earned runs in 5.2 innings pitched.
Earlham had 11 hits as a team including two hits from seniors Nate Lynch, Matt Barger, and Brennan Laird along with sophomore Addison Robertson. The Quakers tallied 11 stolen bases in the contest including three doubles steals.
In game two, Lynch opened the scoring with a bunt single that scored a run. Two innings later, Lynch scored on a Pioneer error to double the Quakers' lead.
Transylvania scored its first run of the game on a steal of home plate in the sixth, but Earlham added runs on an RBI-groundout from junior Kendal Baker and a senior from Laird in the bottom half of the inning.
Trailing 5-1, Blake Hart got the Pioneers' back in the game with a three-run home run down the right field line. Earlham, leading by just a run, scored two in the bottom of the eighth to put the game away.
Freshman Colin Greve earned his third win of the season, allowing one earned run and scattering five hits over seven innings of the work. Greve also fanned six batters compared to just one walk.
Branden Johnson pitched all eight innings for the Pioneers, allowing five earned runs on 13 hits.
Lynch finished 4-5 with two RBIs and a stolen base. Lynch also scored three runs, breaking Andrew Morrical's (2008-11) record of 127 career runs scored.
Freshman Isaiah Shake added a 3-3 performance and came a home run away from hitting for the cycle.
Earlham improves to 21-12 overall and 16-6 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) with the pair of wins. The Quakers look for the series sweep tomorrow (Saturday). First pitch is scheduled for noon.