Senior pitcher Steven Jungers ’26 delivered a commanding performance on the mound in Swarthmore’s Feb. 21 matchup against Pfeiffer University, swinging the momentum of the doubleheader with a lights-out relief appearance. After the Garnet dropped the opener 11–14, Jungers entered the second game in the fifth inning with the contest hanging in the balance. The Virginia native wasted no time asserting control. Mixing precision command with strength, Jungers threw three scoreless innings to shut down Pfeiffer’s lineup and preserve the lead. He struck out nine batters while surrendering just two hits and one walk. By slamming the door in the late innings, he secured the win for Swarthmore and capped the day with one of the most dominant relief outings of the early season. For his performance, Jungers was named Centennial Pitcher of the Week. Jungers is a two-time Centennial Honor Roll recipient and looks forward to finishing out his last year of collegiate baseball with the Garnet.
Swarthmore baseball currently stands at a 4-2 record, with several games canceled or postponed due to the winter’s weather. The Garnet are 2-0 at home and, at the time of writing, look to play their next game against New York University at Clothier Baseball Field.
Aimee Lee: You’ve just been named Centennial Conference Pitcher of the Week — what does this recognition mean to you as the team breaks into the season?
Steven Jungers: It’s pretty cool. It’s not something that goes to relievers typically — we don’t rack up as many counting stats so it almost always goes to starters. With most starters being on pitch counts to start the season and our coaching staff letting me loose after [striking out the other side] (to get Pat Brady ’29 out of a jam; you’re welcome Patrick), it was the perfect storm for me to get it.
It’s always exciting to have some success to kick off the year, and it gives some validation that the process we’ve committed to has strong potential to pay off. Throwing like I did last week should help us win a lot of games in the future.
AL: What clicked for you in your performance against Pfeiffer University? Was there a particular moment or adjustment that made the difference?
SJ: I treated every pitch like a 0-0 count, just trying to put everything in the zone. My stuff’s good enough to get [missed swings on pitches in the strike zone], and if I’m around it enough, my [percentage of pitches a batter swings in the strike zone] takes off. Adding the cutter as a bridge pitch between my sweeper and fastballs has raised my pitchability a lot. It’s letting me steal strikes early in the count, and it makes my slider that much harder to lay off when I’m ahead.
AL: As a senior, how has your role on the team evolved since your first year, both on and off the field?
SJ: I’ve always been a back-end, high-leverage arm for us, so my on-field role hasn’t really changed that much the past few years. Being one of the few seniors on the team, I’d like to think the younger guys look to me as both an example for how to act and a good friend. Given that, it’s even more important that I show up every day with the intention of making a positive impact on their lives.
AL: Swarthmore balances rigorous academics with competitive athletics. How do you manage that balance during the heart of baseball season?
SJ: It’s really tough. Baseball probably has the most ridiculous schedule out of any sports team on campus, especially in terms of time commitment. There ends up being a lot of late nights and sacrifices made on the social end to make it all work.
AL: What’s the culture like in the dugout right now? How has the team’s chemistry contributed to your success this season?
SJ: We’ve got a really process-oriented group right now. Baseball is a game where ups and downs are inevitable: the “better” team loses all the time. After an emotional first couple games, our guys stayed loose, level, and focused. Maintaining that mindset and those vibes regardless of previous outcomes will put us in a good position to win a lot of games.
AL: Looking ahead, what goals do you and the team have for the rest of the season and what will it take to achieve them?
SJL: There are some lofty goals, but it’s a long season. We’ve got 35 regular-season games left to play. If the focus and intent stay high, emotions stay level through ups and downs, and things start to click for a few more guys, I could see us making a run into the national tournament.
AL: Why did you choose Swarthmore? What is your area of study?
SJ: Honestly, Swat’s the best school I could get into and play baseball. I’m studying neuroscience and minoring in engineering.
AL: How has being a student-athlete impacted your experience at Swarthmore? What is one piece of advice you would give to incoming student-athletes?
SJ: It’s made it exponentially more difficult, but it’s also led to so much joy and some of the best friends I’ve ever had. My advice would be to be present, enjoy being surrounded by friends, and take things less seriously both in the classroom and on the field.
