RICHMOND – The Earlham College baseball team began its 2023 season with a win on opening day in Sadler Stadium with a 12-10 score against Olivet College. 

Freshman Hayden Scalf earned the win with 3.2 innings pitched in relief. Scarf recorded seven strikeouts with only three hits on 71 pitches. Jacob Renner earned the save by coming in the ninth inning with two strikeouts. 

Max Fries recorded five RBI on two hits, including a bases-clearing double in the seventh inning to secure the win for the Quakers. Freshman Mac Moore scored an RBI bunt and two stolen bases. 

Trailing 6-0 in the middle of the fourth inning, Nathan Lancianese got on base as the leadoff batter. After working a stolen base, Lancianese came home as the first of three Quaker runs in the inning. 

Scarf faced three batters in the top of the fifth, and the Quakers added two runs in the bottom of the frame. 

Trailing by one, the Comets walked five straight Earlham batters to tie the game at six. Michael Medley reached home on a passed ball to give EC the lead, and Moore brought home a run with a bunt for a single. With the bases loaded, Fries poked a double into deep center field to clear the Earlham runners home to lead 12-6. 

The Comets scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning, but were shut out by Renner in the ninth. 

The series continues tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at noon.